Hypoestes phyllostachya (Polka Dot Plant)

Hypoestes spp.

Africa, Madagascar, and Southeast Asia

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Hypoestes spp. is a genus of around 150 soft-stemmed herbs and subshrubs in the acanthus family, Acanthaceae, native to Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Most form bushy plants 1-3 feet (0.3-0.9 m) tall with opposite, oval leaves on soft, often purplish stems. The genus is widely known through H. phyllostachya, the polka dot plant, whose green leaves are heavily spotted and splashed with pink, white, or red, the markings strongest in bright but filtered light. Small tubular flowers in lilac, pink, or white appear in the leaf axils or in spikes, though on the foliage forms they are small and few; H. aristata, the ribbon bush, is grown instead for its showers of purple autumn flowers. After flowering, ripe capsules split open suddenly to fling out the seeds. Hypoestes spp. grows in the warm, humid understorey of forest and scrub and is frost-tender, so in cool climates it is treated as a houseplant or summer bedding. The coloured-leaf forms grow leggy and lose their markings in low light, and pinching keeps them bushy.

Native Range

Native to Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and parts of Australia, in the warm, humid understorey of forest and scrub.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a houseplant, terrarium plant, and summer bedding or container filler for its spotted foliage, and the ribbon bush as a shrub for autumn flowers in frost-free gardens. The coloured leaves are used for contrast in shaded beds and mixed containers. It also suits warm, humid terrariums and conservatory displays.

How to Identify

Recognised by bushy, soft-stemmed plants with opposite oval leaves, those of H. phyllostachya spotted and splashed with pink, white, or red on green. Stems are often purplish. Small tubular lilac to pink flowers appear in the leaf axils, and ripe capsules split open suddenly to scatter seed.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1' - 3'

Width/Spread1' - 2'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~4 weeks

Fall

Flowering varies with species; H. aristata flowers in autumn with dense spikes of purple flowers, while the foliage forms flower sparsely through the warmer months. The small tubular flowers open in the leaf axils or in short spikes. Capsules ripen soon after and split to release the seed.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Lilac, pink, white, purple

Foliage Description

Green spotted pink, white, or red

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade

Requires 2-5 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 6.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam peat

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Hypoestes spp. grows in bright, filtered light to part shade in warm, humid conditions on moist, free-draining soil rich in organic matter. The coloured-leaf forms hold their markings in bright indirect light and turn green and leggy in deep shade. Steady moisture is needed, as the soft foliage wilts quickly when dry, but soggy soil causes root and stem rot. It is frost-tender and grown indoors or as summer bedding where winters are cold. Regular pinching of the shoot tips keeps plants bushy and delays the decline that follows flowering. It is easily grown from cuttings or seed, and plants are often replaced after a year or two.

Pruning

The shoot tips are pinched regularly to keep plants compact and well-branched, and any flower spikes on foliage forms are removed to prolong leaf quality. Leggy stems are cut back hard to force new growth from the base. Old plants past their prime are replaced from cuttings.