Firetail Fittonia

Firetail Fittonia (Fittonia albivenis 'Firetail') is the nerve plant with deep red veining running across dark green leaves. It stays small, about 15cm tall and spreading to 30cm, and it is one of the few genuinely colourful indoor plants that is not toxic to cats or dogs. Given warmth, shade and some humidity it forms a low carpet of foliage.

Why you'll love it

• Colour that never stops. The flowers are insignificant, so nothing depends on a season. The red veining is in the leaf itself, twelve months a year.
• Not toxic to cats or dogs. It can sit at floor level in a home with pets, unlike most brightly marked indoor plants.
• It stays small. At 15cm tall and 30cm across it suits a shelf, a terrarium or the front edge of a mixed pot.
• It tells you when it is thirsty. The leaves collapse when the mix dries and stand back up within hours of a water, which is forgiving for a beginner.

Where it works best

Indoors. Bright indirect light, away from hot glass and air conditioning vents. Bathrooms and kitchens suit it for the humidity.

Pots, terrariums and balconies. The low spreading habit suits a shallow bowl or a closed terrarium, and a shaded balcony in a warm climate holds it outdoors year round.

Groundcover in warm gardens. In tropical and subtropical shade, plant 20cm apart for a continuous low carpet. It is frost tender, so this only works where frost never reaches.

Growing Firetail Fittonia in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, filtered light to deep shade outdoors. Direct sun scorches the leaves within days. Outdoors it belongs in tropical and subtropical gardens only; anywhere colder, it is an indoor plant.

Soil. A quality indoor mix that holds moisture without turning to mud. Add a third perlite if you tend to water generously, and use a pot with a working drainage hole.

Water and feed. Keep the mix evenly damp and never let it dry right through. Feed at half strength monthly through spring and summer. In a dry room, sit the pot on a pebble tray to lift the humidity.

Pruning. Pinch the growing tips regularly to keep it dense, since unpinched stems run out and go bare at the base. Remove the small flower spikes as they appear.

What to expect when it arrives

It is sold as tube stock, a young plant with a small root system, ready to pot straight into something around 130mm. Expect it to cover that pot within a season.

A soft leaved plant can arrive limp after days in a box. That is dehydration, not damage: water it, keep it out of direct sun for a week, and it usually recovers within a day. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95, so most people buy several to fill a bowl. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• Read our guide on keeping indoor plants alive.
• Browse more pet friendly indoor plants.
• Compare the wider indoor plant range.
• See the household picks in ten pet friendly plants for the home.

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

Yes. Fittonia is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it is a sensible choice for a low shelf or a coffee table. A pet that chews any plant may still get an upset stomach.

Why do the leaves suddenly collapse?

The mix has dried out. Water it thoroughly, tip out the saucer, and the plant is usually upright again within a few hours. Repeated collapses do cost it leaves, so aim to water before it gets there.

Will it cope in a low light room?

It survives, but growth slows and the red veining loses depth. Bright indirect light near a window keeps the colour strong.

Can I plant it outside?

Only in a frost free tropical or subtropical garden, in shade, spaced 20cm apart. Anywhere with cold nights it belongs in a pot indoors.