Genus · Acanthaceae
Hypoestes
2 species tracked in Horta’s catalog, and the named cultivars growers keep. Walk down to a species for its full care record, or into a cultivar for its traits and provenance.
Species in this genus
The ones growers meet most — each links to its own page.
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Polkadot-Plant
A soft-stemmed subshrub from Madagascar, grown for its dappled foliage. It prefers bright indirect light and evenly moist but never soggy mix; water when the top inch of soil feels dry, easing back if the leaves stay limp after drinking. Leaf drop and leggy growth usually mean too little light rather than too little water.
Hypoestes aristata
Ribbon Bush
A scrambling subshrub from across sub-Saharan Africa, Hypoestes aristata grows as soft, leafy understory and forest-margin growth that wants warmth and steady but not soggy conditions. Give it bright indirect light and water when the top inch of mix has dried, letting the surface approach dry between waterings rather than keeping it constantly wet. Its soft stems wilt visibly when too thirsty, which is a useful and forgiving cue.
About the genus
A genus-level overview — shared traits, history, the botany that ties these plants together — is on its way. For now, the species and cultivars above and below carry the genus.
Kept true by its growers
Hypoestes keeps evolving — species move, cultivars appear, IDs get corrected. If you can place an unplaced plant or add a species we’re missing, the whole genus gets truer.
Overview derived from 2 tracked species · the contribute flow arrives with the next slice.