Alice is a hard-working single mother and senior plant breeder at a company that develops new plant varieties. She has designed a very special dark red flower that is not only striking in appearance, but also has outstanding health benefits: if it is kept at the right temperature, fed properly, and spoken to regularly, the plant will make its owner happy. Against company policy, Alice takes one home as a gift for her teenage son, Joe. They name the flower "Little Joe." But as the flower grows, Alice becomes increasingly suspicious that "Little Joe" may not be as innocent as its name suggests.