My fittonia has very pretty foliage
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325249)
Rockingham, Australia
November 20, 2021 8:19am CST
In the photo is another plant I bought the other day. It is a fittonia (nerve plant) and native to the tropical rainforests in South America. They only grow 10–15 cm (4 to 6 inches) tall. Mine is green with white veins but you can get them with veins of pink. It is described as a spreading evergreen perennials.
I thought this one looked like it was a host of individual plants so I tried to split it into several smaller plants. However, I think I might have done the wrong thing. Time will tell no doubt. In our climate it might need to be a house plant but that’s okay. It’s very pretty.
22 people like this
23 responses
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
20 Nov 21
I've always liked the leaves that have distinctive veins in them. I've never seen a fittonia but have some of the Lord and Lady plants with leaves like that. (We planted the Lord and Lady plants here in the very back of our yard. When they bloom, they stink like rotting meat. 
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Lord and Lady leaves. Photo is mine.
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Lord and Lady leaves. Photo is mine.4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
21 Nov 21
@JudyEv My aunt brought a bulb back from South America years and years ago. Until the bulbs mature, they have a pale green flower that has no odor at all. It's only when they bloom in color that the flower stinks like that.
My aunt passed away 20 years ago and never warned me about the odor. I loved the foliage and planted them by the front door. I tried to be smarter about that at this house.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325249)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 21
@DaddyEvil There is a cactus that has a stinking flower too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325249)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 21
@allknowing True. I probably should have left them alone.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86465)
• United States
20 Nov 21
Well now Judy, you are having quite the botanists preserve now where you are.
I love all these gorgeous plants.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325249)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 21
It will be interesting to see how many I can keep alive.
@LindaOHio (155469)
• United States
21 Nov 21
Very pretty. We have mostly weeds in our yard.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325249)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
@LindaOHio I probably couldn't cope now with a big yard. I need to stop moping about it. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157463)
• United States
21 Nov 21
Where I live it is a house plant. Broken off stems will root in the right conditions. I love them.
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
21 Nov 21
It is a pretty plant.I know what would happen to one here. though. Nibble, nibble, crash!
1 person likes this
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
21 Nov 21
@JudyEv With the boy's energy levels, I'm not certain that large plant containers would fare very well either. Except that would probably involve some scampering before the crash.
1 person likes this
@just4him (305367)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Nov 21
@JudyEv I have one that's very pretty. It's called a Garden Croton or some such thing. It's been dropping its leaves lately. I'm wondering if it's an annual. I think that's the right term. I get mixed up between annuals and perennials.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99399)
• Canada
21 Nov 21
@JudyEv yes it gives it such a unique look.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
21 Nov 21
`you are not going to ask me to identify your plant again?
what I am going to do all morning without that distraction?
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
21 Nov 21
@JudyEv that, is exactly what my wife says.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (45432)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
20 Nov 21
I think my mom had one with pink veins.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130067)
• India
20 Nov 21
Never seen them here That would be ideal for earth cover as they are short and they spread.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (61903)
• United States
20 Nov 21
Oh, I hope it does grow for you. I like those plants with veins, too!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39515)
• United States
20 Nov 21
if'n memory serves, they need the higher humidity. 'f course 'tis been 't least 20 years since i've been 'round these. 'd one fer years, with the pink veins. a gift from young'uns i taught horticulture to. odd that now i can't recall much 'bout plants??
ne'er tried to divide the one i'd, but do recall the need to put such'n a tray with small rocks 'lways filled with water. that'n spritzin' several times a day with a water bottle.
the texture 'f the leaves 'tis amazin' ~ best 'f luck!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325249)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Nov 21
I think I should have left this one alone and just potted it on. I read that they might need a pebble tray or spritzing so thanks for the information.
