Polka Dot Plant
Also known as Freckle Face, Pink Polka Dot Plant, Measles Plant, Flamingo Plant. One plant, one grade per pet — the verdicts below are transcribed from primary sources and human-reviewed.
Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya, also sold as freckle face) is non-toxic to cats (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic, noting only mild vomiting or diarrhea if it is eaten.
FULL VERDICT →Polka dot plant (Hypoestes phyllostachya, also sold as freckle face) is non-toxic to dogs (S0 Safe): the ASPCA lists it as non-toxic, noting only mild vomiting or diarrhea if it is eaten.
FULL VERDICT →Care at a glance
What happens if it's eaten
Signs on record for each animal, transcribed from the cited sources.
- mild vomiting
- diarrhea
- mild vomiting
- diarrhea
When to call the vet
See a vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens after any plant ingestion.
FULL VERDICT →See a vet if vomiting or diarrhea persists or worsens after any plant ingestion.
FULL VERDICT →FAQ
Is polka dot plant the same as freckle face — and is it "baby's tears"?
Polka dot plant and freckle face are the same plant; baby's tears is a trap. The ASPCA has two entries, "Polka Dot Plant" and "Freckle Face," both for Hypoestes phyllostachya and both "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses." Its alias list is "Pink Polka Dot Plant, Measles Plant, Baby's Tears, Freckle Face." The first, second, and fourth of those are this plant. But the plant most shops sell as baby's tears is a different species that is not in our index, so we do not extend this S0 verdict to it on the strength of a shared nickname. If the label says Hypoestes, this page applies.
Is polka dot plant the "flamingo plant" that's toxic to pets?
Not the toxic one — the name belongs to two plants. The ASPCA lists "Flamingo Plant" as another name for polka dot plant on its Freckle Face entry (Hypoestes phyllostachya, "Non-Toxic to Dogs, Non-Toxic to Cats, Non-Toxic to Horses"), and it uses the same name for Anthurium scherzeranum, the flamingo flower, which it lists as toxic to dogs and cats. On our index the anthurium is S2 Irritant. If a tag says flamingo plant, check the scientific name: Hypoestes is this page, Anthurium is not.