White Angel Fittonia

White Angel Fittonia (Fittonia albivenis 'White Angel') is the nerve plant with the brightest veining: deep green leaves netted in clean white, on a plant that stays 15cm tall and spreads to about 30cm. It is a low creeping foliage plant for warm shade, and indoors it thrives in exactly the humid, low light conditions that finish off most variegated plants. It is also not toxic to cats and dogs.

Why you'll love it

• Veining that lights up shade. Crisp white networks over dark green leaves read almost luminous in a dim corner or a shaded courtyard.
• Small and well behaved. At 15cm tall and 30cm across it fits a small pot, a terrarium or a shallow bowl without outgrowing it.
• Safe around pets. Fittonia is not toxic to cats or dogs, so it can sit at floor level or on a low shelf.
• It tells you when it is thirsty. The leaves wilt dramatically as the mix dries, then recover within hours of watering.
• It likes humidity. Bathrooms, kitchens and closed terrariums suit it, and few plants genuinely prefer them.

Where it works best

Indoors. This is where most fittonias live: bright indirect light, away from direct sun and away from heaters and cooling vents. Bathrooms and kitchens are ideal for the ambient moisture.

Terrariums and small pots. A closed glass container is close to its natural understorey conditions, and its small size means it will not take over the arrangement.

Ground cover in warm frost free gardens. In tropical and subtropical gardens it can be planted out in shade at 20cm spacing for a fine textured carpet. Anywhere that gets frost, keep it in a pot.

Growing fittonia in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light indoors, or deep shade outside. Direct sun bleaches the leaves and scorches the edges within days. Outdoors it is limited to tropical and subtropical gardens, because it is frost tender.

Soil. A good quality indoor potting mix with extra perlite or coco coir, so it holds moisture without going stagnant. The pot needs a drainage hole, because fittonia wants damp, not waterlogged.

Water and feed. Keep the mix consistently moist, checking every few days in warm weather. If the plant collapses, water it and it is usually back up within hours, though repeated collapses cost leaves. Liquid feed at half strength monthly through spring and summer.

Pruning. Pinch the growing tips regularly to keep the plant compact, otherwise the stems run long and go bare in the middle. The pinched tips strike easily in water or damp mix.

What to expect when it arrives

White Angel Fittonia is sold as tube stock, a young rooted plant ready to go straight into a 100mm to 150mm pot or a terrarium. It is a slow grower, so give it a season to fill its pot rather than expecting immediate cover.

Fittonia is thin leaved and can look limp after a few days in a box. Unpack it, water it, put it somewhere bright and indirect, and it usually stands back up the same day. Delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse pet friendly indoor plants
• Pink Fittonia, the same plant with rose pink veining
• Variegated plants explained

Common questions

Why does it keep wilting?

Fittonia collapses as soon as the mix dries out, which is how it asks for water rather than a sign of damage. If it happens weekly, move it out of draughts and into a more humid spot.

Is it safe for 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 in a household with pets.

Can I grow it outdoors?

Only in tropical and subtropical gardens, in full shade, planted 20cm apart as a ground cover. It is frost tender, so in every other climate it belongs in a pot that can come inside.