Polka Dot Plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Plantae›Tracheophyta›Magnoliopsida›Lamiales›Acanthaceae
Grown emersed with roots in the tank water and its spotted foliage above the surface, absorbing nitrates as a biofilter. Needs bright indirect light to keep its leaf color, grows at a moderate rate, and roots in aquarium water; a smaller, bushier choice than the aroid vines.
Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air: a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.
Where it's from
Native to Madagascar
Recorded as introduced in Assam, Brazil Southeast, Colombia, Costa Rica and 14 more places
At a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Growth
- Moderate
- Placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
Member photos
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Legality
No state or federal restrictions on record.
Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and change over time; check with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping or shipping it.
The care information here is written with AI help, so it can contain mistakes. Spot one? Tell us and we'll fix it. Native range: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP) (CC BY 4.0).
At a glance
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Growth
- Moderate
- Placement
- Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
Keepers’ experiences
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