About Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker
Hypoestes phyllostachya Baker is an evergreen shrub that grows 30 cm (12 in) tall and broad. It forms bushy, compact tufts. Its green foliage is marked with heavy pink or white spots that look as if sprayed with paint; spots can also range from white through all shades of pink to red, with the most common cultivar having green leaves with pink spots. Spots on the undersides of leaves are far lighter, often white. Its leaves are opposite, oval, pointed, and carried on 2 to 4 cm long petioles. It may produce small pink/purple flowers: solitary flowers that resemble honeysuckle can grow at nodes, and small pink/purple flowers also grow on a cob-shaped inflorescence at stem tips. The fruit is a dehiscent capsule that holds many seeds.
Hypoestes phyllostachya is cultivated as an ornamental plant. It is widely known as a common houseplant, but can also be grown outdoors: it grows as an annual in cooler climates, and as a perennial in the subtropics and tropics. In the United Kingdom, it has received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Many cultivars with different foliage colors have been developed. This plant grows best in partial sun. In the United States, it is winter hardy in hardiness zones 10 and 11. It has low drought tolerance, but is rarely damaged by deer. It spreads through cuttings and seedlings.
