Hippo Rose Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya 'Hippo Rose')
Hypoestes phyllostachya 'Hippo Rose'

Evergreen Perennial (usually grown as an annual near you) Upright, Mounding in the Acanthaceae Family
A patented Hippo-series selection prized for its bold dark green and deep pink speckled foliage.

Hypoestes phyllostachya 'Hippo Rose' is a patented Polka Dot Plant selection (US Plant Patent PP29,842), bred by Irene E. Palmer and Michael S. Uchneat for Garden Genetics LLC. Its dark green leaves are marked with deep pink-purple speckling, and like its Hippo-series siblings, the patent notes its tolerance for brighter light than the species type, making it a strong performer in containers, mixed beds, and as a houseplant.

Like the species, its small lilac flowers are inconspicuous and usually pinched off so the plant's energy stays in its foliage. Not winter hardy in the Chicago area -- grown here as a colorful annual or houseplant.

Pros

  • Patent-documented tolerance for brighter light than most Polka Dot Plants
  • Bold dark green and deep pink speckled foliage
  • Compact, mounding habit suits containers and small spaces
  • Easy to propagate from cuttings

Cons

  • Not winter hardy; killed by first frost
  • Flowers are inconspicuous and usually removed
  • Can fade or green up in deep shade
  • Prone to mealybugs and aphids indoors
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights Dark green foliage boldly speckled with deep pink; part of the patented Hippo series bred for improved light tolerance.
 

Plant Data

Mature Size 16 - 22 inches tall. 8 - 14 inches wide.
Growth Rate Fast
Sun Exposure Full Shade - Partial Sun
Moisture Tolerance Medium : Prefers consistently moist soil; dislikes being allowed to dry out between waterings.
Zones 10a - 11b (Usually hardy to 30° F)
Tags Annual in Chicago, Colorful Foliage, Container, Evergreen, For a Shady Spot, Full Shade, Grown as Annuals, Grown For Attractive Foliage, House Plants, Insignificant Flowers, Medium, Non-Allergenic, Partial Shade, Partial Sun, Perennial, Proven Winner Selection, Red Foliage, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial, Tropical
Bloom Period Insignificant; often pinched off
Flower Color Lilac to Pale Purple
Foliage Color Dark Green with Deep Pink Markings
 

Most Popular Plants

Commonly Planted with...

Pairs well in shaded beds and containers with other colorful shade-foliage plants, including Coleus, Begonias, Caladiums, and Impatiens.

Photos of This with...

Hippo Rose Polka Dot Plant, Diamond Frost Spurge, Rockapulco Rose Impatiens, Angelface Perfectly Pink Angelonia, Proven Accents Pegasus Begonia, Surefire Red Begonia, Jack of Diamonds Siberian Bugloss, Queen of Hearts Siberian Bugloss, Heart To Heart Rose Glow Elephant Ear, Heart to Heart Va Va Violet Elephant Ear, Superbells Double Ruby Calibrachoa, Superbells Doublette Love Swept Calibrachoa, Toucan Yellow Canna Lily, Pink Diamonds Fern-Leaved Bleeding Heart, Diamond Snow Spurge, Stratosphere White Gaura, Dolce Cherry Truffle Coralbells, Dolce Spearmint Coral Bells, Dolce Wildberry Coralbells, Fun and Games Eye Spy Foamy Bells, Autumn Frost Hosta, Hippo Red Polka Dot Plant, Rockapulco Coral Reef Impatiens, Sunpatiens Compact Purple Candy Impatiens, Sweet Caroline Bewitched After Midnight Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Bewitched Green With Envy Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Light Green Sweet Potato, Sweet Caroline Raven Improved Sweet Potato, Luscious Royale Cosmo Lantana, Golden Globes Loosestrife, Pardon My Pink Bee Balm, Sunsatia Lemon Nemesia, Emerald Vase Sword Fern, Boldly Hot Pink Geranium, Graceful Grasses Vertigo, Fireworks Variegated Red Fountain Grass, Graceful Grasses Purple Fountain Grass, Sky Rocket Fountain Grass, Lemon Coral Stonecrop, ColorBlaze Lime Time Coleus, ColorBlaze Strawberry Drop Coleus, ColorBlaze Torchlight Coleus, Persian Shield, Summer Wave Large Amethyst Wishbone Flower,
 
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Pricing and Availability History

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Past Availability
2025 : 02/05 - 06/22
2024 : 02/08 - 06/15
2023 : 03/02 - 05/21

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Field-Grown vs. Greenhouse-Grown Plants

Plants which are well-adapted to our local climate are most often field-grown (outside). Field-grown plants are generally cheaper and have the advantage of already somewhat acclimated to our cold winters, but that means they’re not artificially far along in the spring and tend to bloom at the normal time in our area.

Spring annuals and tender perennials are typically grown in Greenhouses so they can be ready and luxurious exactly when customers want them. Some perennials are also “forced” into early bloom in greenhouses. In May, there can be a very big difference between field-grown and greenhouse-grown plants of the same type. The latter typically look good right away (so they’re a great choice where that’s important), but we typically pay a premium for it.


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No Pricing or Availability Right Now

We order from a rotating cast of the best nurseries in the Great Lakes region. It looks like we've offered this plant in the past, but the nurseries we're working with this week don't appear to have it in stock at the moment.

Our goal is to bring as many plants together under "one roof" as possible, so we'll try hard to make it available again in the future!