Great as a gift 🌸
Baby's Tears
Hypoestes phyllostachya · Acanthaceae
How it looks
Baby's Tears (Hypoestes) is a small herb whose dark green leaves are speckled with pink, red, and white spots. The leaves are small and oval, and the leaf surface bears a showy, paint-splattered pattern. It grows 8-16 in (20-40 cm) tall.
Baby's Tears is listed as non-toxic to cats by the ASPCA. An occasional nibble is unlikely to cause any real trouble.
Guide for parents
Even with a safe plant, make a habit of picking up fallen leaves the same day. If your cat likes to dig in or eat potting soil, fertilizer ingredients can upset their stomach — covering the soil with pebbles works well. If it comes home as a cut stem, florists often treat it with preservatives, so place the vase where your cat can't drink the water.
Details
- Scientific name
- Hypoestes phyllostachya
- Common name
- Baby's Tears
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Source
- ASPCA
