Hypoestes phyllostachya
Common name: Polka dot plant · Freckle face
Hypoestes phyllostachya is a small, bushy perennial native to Madagascar, grown for its leaves splashed with pink, white, or red spots. The speckled pattern is most intense in bright, indirect light. It is often grown as a colorful annual or a compact houseplant and pairs well in terrariums and mixed planters.
Care summary
Sun
Bright indirect light for best color
Water
Keep evenly moist
Soil
Rich, well-draining potting mix
Hardiness
Zones 10–11
Mature height
30–60 cm (1–2 ft)
Pet safe
Non-toxic to cats and dogs
Difficulty
Moderate
Propagation
Stem cuttings root very easily in water or moist potting mix. Take a 7-10 cm tip cutting below a node, remove the lower leaves, and keep warm and humid; roots appear within a couple of weeks. It also grows readily from seed sown on the surface of moist compost in warmth.
Fun facts
- The polka dots fade in low light, so bright shade keeps the pattern vivid.
- Pink, red, and white spotted cultivars are all common.
- Pinching the tips keeps it bushy and delays leggy flowering stems.
- It is native to the forests of Madagascar.