Gold Coast
flora and fauna

A guide to the plants and animals that make our city one of the most biodiverse in Australia.
Phylum
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
Class
MAGNOLIOPSIDA
Family
ACANTHACEAE
Genus
Hypoestes
Species
phyllostachya
Fauna
False
Mapping

Common name
Polka Dot Plant
Alternate name
Freckle Face
Historical
False
QLD
Naturalised
NSW
EPBC
APC
ROTAP
Comment
LGA significant
False
Stronghold population
False
Wildnet record
False
Museum listing
False
Introduced
True
Qld Census
False
Regionally significant/rationale
False
Restricted distribution/rationale
False
Abundance
Uncommon
Historical abundance
Endemicity
Overall distribution
Local distribution
Scattered in various moist areas near habitation
Known location
Currumbin Ck, Springbrook,
Other locality
Riparian dependent
False
Wetland dependent
False
Forest dependent
False
Hollow dependent
False
Terrestrial
False
Estuarine
False
Marine
False
General ecology
Specific ecology
Habitat
Habitat comment
Threats
Management
Community type
Migratory
False
Migration notes
Feeding status
Feeding strategy
Feeding substrate
Diet
Reproduction
Breeding season
Active period
Active season
Social group
Behaviour
Range
Biology
Growth form
Herb
Description
Small, shade-tolerant perennial herb to about 0.5m. Numerous cultivars display different foliage colours and patterns but typically have soft green leaves with white to pink spots or mottled patterns. Small lavender blue flowers in summer.
Taxonomy Comments
Species comments
Citations