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annual

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant

Hypoestes phyllostachya 'G14157'

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Hippo Red Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya 'G14157') at Rutgers Landscape & Nursery

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant foliage

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Hippo Red Polka Dot Plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya 'G14157') at Rutgers Landscape & Nursery

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant foliage

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant foliage

(Photo courtesy of NetPS Plant Finder)

Height:  18 inches

Spacing:  10 inches

Sunlight:  full sun  partial shade  full shade 

Hardiness Zone:  (annual)

Group/Class:  Hippo Series

Brand:  Proven Winners

Description:

This spectacular, eye catching plant presents shiny dark green leaves that are splashed and dotted with bright scarlet red, creating a vibrant color contrast in the garden or containers; heat tolerant, and does well in sun or shade

Ornamental Features

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant's attractive oval leaves emerge forest green in spring, turning burgundy in color with distinctive scarlet spots the rest of the year on a plant with a mounded habit of growth.

Landscape Attributes

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant is an herbaceous annual with a mounded form. Its medium texture blends into the garden, but can always be balanced by a couple of finer or coarser plants for an effective composition.

This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. Deer don't particularly care for this plant and will usually leave it alone in favor of tastier treats. It has no significant negative characteristics.

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant is recommended for the following landscape applications;

  • Mass Planting
  • Border Edging
  • General Garden Use
  • Groundcover
  • Container Planting
  • Hanging Baskets

Planting & Growing

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant will grow to be about 18 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 12 inches. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. Its foliage tends to remain dense right to the ground, not requiring facer plants in front. Although it's not a true annual, this fast-growing plant can be expected to behave as an annual in our climate if left outdoors over the winter, usually needing replacement the following year. As such, gardeners should take into consideration that it will perform differently than it would in its native habitat.

This plant performs well in both full sun and full shade. It does best in average to evenly moist conditions, but will not tolerate standing water. It is not particular as to soil type or pH. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments. This is a selected variety of a species not originally from North America. It can be propagated by cuttings; however, as a cultivated variety, be aware that it may be subject to certain restrictions or prohibitions on propagation.

Hippo® Red Polka Dot Plant is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor containers and hanging baskets. It is often used as a 'filler' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination, providing a canvas of foliage against which the thriller plants stand out. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.

 
 
Hardiness Zone Plant Height Minimum Sunlight
Characteristics
Massing  Edging  Garden  Groundcover  Container  Basket 
Applications
Foliage Color 
Ornamental Features


Disclaimer - Rutgers Landscape & Nursery Plant Finder is an online resource representing many of the varieties that we carry over the course of the season, and is intended for informational purposes only. Inventory varies seasonally, so we cannot guarantee that every plant will be in stock at all times - please contact Rutgers directly for current availability.