Hypoestes phyllostachya
| Hypoestes phyllostachya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Lamiales |
| Family: | Acanthaceae |
| Genus: | Hypoestes |
| Species: | H. phyllostachya |
| Binomial name | |
| Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker, 1887 | |
Hypoestes phyllostachya, the polka dot plant, is a species of flowering plant in the acanthus family Acanthaceae, native to South Africa, Madagascar, and south east Asia. Growing to 30 cm (12 in) tall and broad, it is an evergreen shrub with leaves heavily-spotted pink or white, as if sprayed with paint. The spots often merge into larger areas of colour.[1]
The Latin specific epithet phyllostachya means “with a leaf spike”.[2]
Cultivation
Hypoestes phyllostachya is cultivated as an ornamental plant and is familiar as a houseplant, but can also be grown outside as an annual plant in cooler climates or a perennial in the subtropics and tropics.[1] In the UK it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit.[3][4] The most common type has green leaves with pink spots, although it can range from white to any shade of pink to red. The spots on the undersides of the leaves are far lighter in color, often white. It may produce small, solitary pink/purple flowers at the nodes that slightly resemble bee balm. Many different cultivars have been created with different foliage colors.
This plant does best in partial sun.
References
- 1 2 "Hypoestes phyllostachya". Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
- ↑ Harrison, Lorraine (2012). RHS Latin for Gardeners. United Kingdom: Mitchell Beazley. ISBN 184533731X.
- ↑ "RHS Plantfinder - Hypoestes phyllostachya". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ↑ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 52. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
External links