Japanese name: キャッツテール Scientific name:Acalypha chamaedrifolia
[Overview]
A perennial 10–25 cm tall.
The stems creep or rise obliquely and are covered with soft hairs.
The leaves are simple and alternate, ovate, about 2 cm long, with serrated margins.
They have short petioles.
It flowers throughout the year if temperatures are sufficient.
A spike-like inflorescence with a stalk of 0.2–1 cm appears at the stem tip.
There are male and female flowers, and in each inflorescence neither has petals.
The inflorescence is reddish from the bud stage and lengthens as it blooms, reaching 5 cm or more.
The fruit is a capsule.
[Cultivation]
Propagate by cuttings, which root well in the hot season.
It is vulnerable to cold, and it is safest to keep it at 10 °C or above over winter.
It prefers a sunny, well-drained location.
Water thoroughly when the soil surface dries.
The flowers are easily damaged by water, so it is better to water at the base of the plant, and during long rainy spells it is best to place it under the eaves so that rain does not reach it.
From spring to autumn, apply slow-release fertilizer placed on the soil.
When the flowers finish, cut off the flower spikes promptly.
Pests and diseases include spider mites and aphids.
