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A mature Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya) growing in a residential garden bedAnnuals

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Polka Dot Plant

Hypoestes phyllostachya

Polka Dot Plant is grown as an annual. It does best in part shade with medium water needs. It grows happily in containers.

⚠ Restricted in FL, HI, PR

Invasive here. Florida's UF/IFAS Assessment rates this a high invasion risk and does not recommend planting it (2025); in Hawaii it is widely naturalised and forms dense patches that crowd out native plants.

USDA zones
2-11
Sun
Part shade
Water
Medium

Freeze survival

Will it survive your winters?

We score Polka Dot Plant’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.

Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.

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