Evergreen Perennial
(usually grown as an annual near you)
Upright, Mounding in the Acanthaceae Family
A shade-loving foliage favorite, prized for its playful pink-and-green spotted leaves rather than its flowers.
Hypoestes phyllostachya, commonly called Polka Dot Plant, is a tender evergreen subshrub native to Madagascar, grown here as a colorful foliage annual, container plant, and houseplant. Its oval, pointed leaves are splashed with pink or rose spots against green, giving the plant its common name. Small, inconspicuous lilac to pale purple flowers appear on spikes in late summer, though many gardeners pinch them off to keep the plant's energy focused on foliage.
Reaching 1 to 2 feet tall and 9 to 12 inches wide, it forms an upright, mounding clump that thrives in part shade with consistently moist, well-drained soil. Not winter hardy outside USDA Zones 10a-11b, it's typically grown as a warm-season annual in the Chicago area, lifted and brought indoors as a houseplant, or simply replaced each spring.
Pros
Vividly spotted, colorful foliage all season long
Thrives in shade where many annuals struggle
Easy to propagate from cuttings
Doubles as a houseplant through winter
Cons
Not winter hardy; killed by first frost
Flowers are inconspicuous and usually removed
Can get leggy without regular pinching
Prone to mealybugs and aphids indoors
This plant is probably not winter-hardy outdoors where you live.
Highlights
Grown for its vividly spotted pink-and-green foliage rather than its flowers, Polka Dot Plant is one of the most reliable colorful-foliage choices for shady beds, containers, and indoor light.
Plant Data
Mature Size
12 - 24 inches
tall. 9 - 12 inches
wide.
Growth Rate
Fast
Sun Exposure
Full Shade - Partial Shade
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, Perennial, Shade Tolerant, Tender Perennial, Tropical
We try very hard to source exactly what you’d like, but sometimes growers run out of plants! While this variety is a great deal at the price shown, we know that it has limited availability. If you want the plant even if it might be more expensive, or in a different size or quantity -- after you place your order, just send us a quick note at help@northshoreplantclub.com. Then, we’ll try to get you some version of this from one of our growers. And if we can’t get it from anywhere, of course, we’ll send a refund!
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.
Estimated Recipe Cost
The cost of this recipe's ingredients will vary depending on the season and the sizes and varieties you select.
Benefits of Membership
Want a better way to get great plants and make your yard look awesome? Create your account below and get:
The best plants… from the same sources the pros use, but at near wholesale prices
More plants in more sizes than anywhere else… whether you’re looking for classics or rarities; annuals, perennials or shrubs; one plant or a whole yardful!
"No Contact" delivery or easy pick-up at a site near you without fighting the retail crowds. You choose!
Membership is free, but — since we rely on delivery and local pick-up — you have to live near one of our hubs (or be willing to drive to a site to pick them up). If you live farther away, and would like to help us bring the club to your neighbors, please email helpusgrow@northshoreplantclub.com.
Already a member?
Login
About Ordering From The Plant Club
To secure the best prices for club members and make sure we know the current plants available from each nursery, we take orders only a couple of times a month.
Shoot us an email at help@northshoreplantclub.com, and we'll be happy to talk about plants or let you know when it's time to buy them!
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!