Acanthaceae
Polkadot-plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Genus
- Hypoestes
Pets and kids
- CatsSafe
- DogsSafe
- KidsSafe
Why
Cats: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to cats. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Polka Dot Plant - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Dogs: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to dogs. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Polka Dot Plant - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Kids: Safe
Sources below say it is non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Houseplants for Classrooms - UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions University or extension
- NON-TOXIC PLANT LIST - OHSU University or extension
Is yours looking unwell? Scan your plant — free
Is Polkadot-plant safe for cats, dogs and kids?
Is Polkadot-plant safe for cats?
Our sources call Polkadot-plant non-toxic to cats. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Polka Dot Plant - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Is Polkadot-plant safe for dogs?
Our sources call Polkadot-plant non-toxic to dogs. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Polka Dot Plant - ASPCA ASPCA Animal Poison Control
Is Polkadot-plant safe for kids?
Our sources call Polkadot-plant non-toxic to young children. Any plant can upset a stomach if a lot is eaten.
- Houseplants for Classrooms - UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions University or extension
- NON-TOXIC PLANT LIST - OHSU University or extension
Ate some? Call your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (a fee may apply). For a child, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). If they are struggling to breathe or collapse, call 911. Don't give anything by mouth unless a vet or poison expert tells you to.
See all cat-safe plants, dog-safe plants and child-safe plants.
Common names
By language (5)
- Chinese
- 嫣红蔓, 舞点枪刀药, 舞點槍刀藥, 红点枪花药, 红点草, 嫣紅蔓
- English
- Polkadot-plant
- Estonian
- Harilik täpplehik
- Persian
- گل سنگ
- Polish
- Niedośpian ognisty
Synonyms
- Eranthemum sanguinolentum Veitch ex Van Houtte
- Hypoestes lasiostegia var. sanguinolenta (Veitch ex Van Houtte) Benoist
- Hypoestes sanguinolenta (Veitch ex Van Houtte) Hook.
Flowers
- In flower
- March to April, June, August to January (from 92 flowering iNaturalist observations worldwide)
Characteristics
- Growth habit
- Forb/herb
- Lifespan
- Perennial
- In the US and Canada
- Hawaii: introduced, Puerto Rico: introduced
Photos
FlowerPhoto: 葉子, CC0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Alex Abair, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
FlowerPhoto: Manuel Venegas Hernandez, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Shaan Aroeste, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Daderot, CC0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Susa Marc, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF 
Photo: 吳小甄, CC BY 4.0, from iNaturalist 
Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: Abel Ortíz Sanjur, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF 
Photo: Vinayaraj, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons 
Photo: vish44u, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Pl@ntNet via GBIF
More in Hypoestes
- Hypoestes aristataAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes trifloraAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes floribundaAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes rodriguesianaAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes betsiliensisAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes cancellataAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes chlorotrichaAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes diclipteroidesAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes maculosaAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes mollissimaAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes pubescensAcanthaceae
- Hypoestes taeniataAcanthaceae
Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.