Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK)
Discover Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK, the Polka dot plant. Prized for its pink variegated foliage, this compact perennial suits containers and annual beds.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Polka dot plant, Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK, is celebrated almost entirely for its vibrant, speckled foliage rather than its flowers. This herbaceous perennial offers striking visual texture, featuring ovate leaves splashed with rose, pink, or lavender spots, making it a favorite substitute for colorful blooms in shaded areas. Grown widely as a compact bedding annual or a decorative houseplant, the Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK selection provides consistent color throughout the growing season. Its relatively contained size—rarely exceeding one foot tall and wide—makes the Polka dot plant highly versatile for small gardens, containers, and mixed plantings where bold color impact is desired.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Acanthaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 0.75-1 ft
- Spread: 0.75-1 ft
- Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
- Bloom Description: Purple
- Sun Exposure: Part shade
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: Medium
How to Grow
For use as a bedding plant outside of its tropical range, treat the Polka dot plant as an annual. Plant bedding specimens in organically rich, medium-moisture, well-drained soils situated in areas that receive consistent part shade. Proper soil texture is crucial to prevent waterlogging, as medium moisture levels must be maintained consistently.
To encourage a dense, bushy habit vital for the best display of the colorful foliage, regularly pinch the growing tips of the Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK. Gardeners often remove the small flower spikes when they appear because they are inconspicuous and detract from the main ornamental feature—the leaves.
If overwintering containers or growing indoors as a houseplant, ensure they receive bright indoor light, which may include some direct sun exposure, while maintaining medium soil moisture. While annuals can be dug up and potted in the fall, many gardeners find it simpler to procure new Polka dot plant selections each spring.
Landscape Uses
The vibrant coloration of Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK makes it perfectly suited for providing low-level color accents in shadier parts of the landscape where few flowering plants thrive. It excels as an annual bedding plant, creating a low, colorful ground cover beneath taller shrubs or deciduous trees. Its compact nature ensures it meshes well in mixed containers, often acting as a stunning ‘filler’ plant amidst taller upright specimens and trailing edibles. Use this plant in terrariums to maintain high humidity or as a tropical accent in protected patio settings.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Insignificant
Noteworthy Characteristics
Native to Madagascar, this herbaceous perennial is instantly recognized by its ovate green leaves richly spotted with rose or pink, distinguishing the Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK selection. While it produces tiny lilac flowers on spikes, the characteristic that draws gardeners is the variegated foliage, which remains attractive even as the plant matures to about 12 inches high and wide. The genus name references the leafy bracts covering the calyxes on its flowering spikes.
Tolerances
- Susceptible to whiteflies, aphids, and mealy bugs, especially when grown indoors in improper cultural conditions. Watch for powdery mildew
Potential Problems
The primary pest challenges for the Polka dot plant occur when it is brought indoors during winter. Whiteflies, aphids, and mealy bugs are particularly attracted to plants grown in improper cultural conditions, such as low humidity or poor airflow typical of heated homes. Routine inspection, especially of the undersides of the leaves, is essential for early detection.
For pest management, horticultural oils or insecticidal soaps are generally effective controls for soft-bodied insects. Ensuring adequate air circulation indoors will also help reduce the likelihood of developing powdery mildew, a common fungal issue on stressed foliage.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Polka dot plant suitable for?
The Polka dot plant is winter hardy only in USDA Zones 10 and 11. In cooler climates, it must be grown as a seasonal annual or treated as a houseplant.
How large does Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK grow?
This compact selection typically reaches a mature height and spread between 0.75 and 1 foot (around 12 inches).
What sun exposure does Polka dot plant need?
This plant performs best when situated in part shade, providing protection from intense afternoon sun which can scorch the delicate variegated leaves.
When does Polka dot plant bloom?
It is noted as a seasonal bloomer, producing small, inconspicuous purple flowers sporadically during the summer months.
Conclusion
The unique, brightly speckled foliage of Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK secures its spot as a standout accent in shaded beds, mixed containers, and indoor settings. For gardeners seeking reliable, low-growing color, the Polka dot plant offers unsurpassed vibrancy. Before planting, verify that your area’s climate supports Zone 10 or higher, or plan for overwintering containers indoors.
Companion Planting
When using Hypoestes phyllostachya SPLASH SELECT PINK in containers or as an annual border, pairing it with plants that share similar cultural needs—part shade and consistent, medium moisture—will ensure the health of the entire grouping. Consider contrasting textures like the fine foliage of ferns, which thrive in damp shade, or use solid green hostas as a backdrop to make the pink variegation pop. For annual arrangements, pair with deep purple or dark-leafed plants like selections of Coleus or certain varieties of Impatiens to emphasize the dark green base color of the polka dot foliage.
Design Ideas for Shade Gardens
The compact stature (under one foot) of the Polka dot plant makes it an excellent edging plant for shady garden paths where a low, brightly colored band is desired. It works beautifully tucked into the base of larger specimen plants that struggle in full sun, such as Japanese maples or rhododendrons, injecting color at ground level. Furthermore, its tropical appearance lends itself well to creating miniature jungle effects when grouped in shaded courtyards or near water features.
