Polka-Dot Plant – Hypoestes phyllostachya

Common Name: Polka-Dot Plant, Measles Plant, Flamingo Plant

Botanical Name: Hypoestes phyllostachya, hy-po-ES-teez fil-o-STAK-ee-a

Decorative Life: Months to many years.

Availability: Year Round

Should be treated with a growth retardant to make more compact plants both at the time of sale and for months thereafter. Not all growth retardants have equal effectiveness but chlormequat seems to work well.

• Member of the Acanthaceae (acanthus family).
• Native to Madagascar.
• Common relatives include Aphelandra, Crossandra, black-eyed-Susan and shrimp-plant.

• Leaves are mostly oval, 2-3 inches long, on slender stems.
• Leaves spotted with pink or white blotches, the reason for one or more of its common names.

Chill sensitive, store above 55 degrees F.

• From the Greek “hypo” (below) and “estia” (a house), referring to the bracts that cover the flowers.
• Will generally grow well in light levels bright enough to read a newspaper in comfort.