Splash Select Series Hypoestes, commonly known as Polka Dot Plant, brings vibrant, colorful foliage to shaded gardens where few other plants thrive. This tender annual grows into a compact mound just 8 to 10 inches tall, reaching full maturity in 70 to 79 days. Native to Madagascar but now beloved worldwide, it thrives in partial shade and performs exceptionally well in containers, planters, and garden beds across hardiness zones 10 to 11. The foliage alone makes it worth growing: splashed with contrasting colors that add visual interest without flowers stealing the show.
Partial Shade
High
10-11
10in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Splash Select Series stands out for its rare combination of colorful, patterned foliage and genuine toughness in difficult conditions. It tolerates drought well despite its tropical origins, rarely attracts deer, and actually prefers the shade where heat-loving annuals struggle. The compact mounding habit and fast growth mean you'll have a full, decorative plant within 10 weeks, making it one of the easiest exotics to grow in hot, humid gardens.
Splash Select Series excels at brightening shaded containers, window boxes, and planters where it becomes a living accent plant. Its colorful foliage works beautifully in mixed container combinations, adding texture and pattern without competing for attention. Garden beds in partial shade also benefit from its low, mounding growth habit, which fills space while respecting sight lines.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before your last frost date at a soil temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep the seed starting mix moist but not waterlogged; germination typically occurs within 10 to 14 days.
Harden off seedlings over 7 to 10 days before transplanting outdoors after all frost danger has passed. Space plants 12 inches apart in prepared beds or containers filled with well-draining potting soil.
Pinch back the growing tips of young plants when they reach 4 to 5 inches tall to encourage a fuller, more compact mounded form. This simple step results in bushier growth and more colorful foliage throughout the season. Occasional deadheading of spent flower spikes keeps energy focused on leaf production.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.