Polka Dot Plants (Hypoestes phyllostachya) are common houseplants with brightly colored leaves. Also known as the freckle face plant, the Polka dot plant is an evergreen shrub native to East Asia, South Africa, and Madagascar.
Other common names for the Polka dot plant are the measles plant and flamingo plant. The polka dot plant is a species in the family Acanthaceae. There are more than 100 types of polka dots[1], all with different shades and patterns.
Polka dot plants are herbaceous shrubs whose stalks lignify with age. The plant can grow up to 1 meter (3 feet) in height in its natural habitat, but specimens in pots are usually smaller. The foliage is dotted with darker green spots and a pink base.
Many other varieties have been developed by breeders, some of which are speckled with green, but others are speckled with other hues. There are white, lavender, scarlet, and purple mottled leaves. It can produce small individual, Honeysuckle-like purple/pink flowers at the nodes.
