Splash Select Red Hypoestes | 25 Seeds

Classification: Hypoestes phyllostachya Pattern: High-Contrast Variegation Pigment: Scarlet | Deep Green Role: The Desktop Graphic Habit: Compact Mound (10–12")

The monochromatic houseplant is a failure of imagination. While the Pothos and the Fern are content to recede into the background, the Hypoestes refuses anonymity.

Often called the "Polka Dot Plant," this perennial (best cultivated indoors) appears to have been left in the studio of an abstract expressionist. The foliage is not merely green; it is a canvas for chaotic, painterly splashes of vibrant scarlet. It creates a "living terrazzo" effect that breaks up the visual monotony of a standard plant collection.

It is compact, highly expressive, and functions less like a plant and more like a piece of high-contrast decor that happens to require water.

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THE CURATOR'S NOTES

• The Solar Exchange: The vibrancy of the leaf is directly correlated to the quality of light. In low light, the plant will revert to green in a desperate attempt to survive. To maintain the scarlet intensity, give it bright, indirect exposure. It craves the spotlight.
• Architectural Discipline: Left to its own devices, it may become "leggy." Do not be afraid to pinch back the growing tips. It responds to this discipline by becoming bushier, denser, and more visually impactful.
• Germination Protocol: Critical. These seeds are photosensitive. They require light to trigger growth. Press them firmly into the surface of the soil, but do not bury them. Cover them with darkness, and you destroy them.
• The Scale: Reaching only 10–12 inches, it is the ideal "Desk Companion." It provides a necessary burst of energy to a workspace without demanding the square footage of a Fiddle Leaf Fig.