Plant guide
Fittonia
Fittonia albivenis
Fittonia is considered non-toxic to cats. This guide covers Fittonia albivenis, also recorded as Fittonia verschaffeltii. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
Non-toxic does not mean edible. Eating plant material can still upset your cat’s stomach.
What this guide covers: This guide covers Fittonia albivenis, including the scientific synonym Fittonia verschaffeltii used in the cat-safety reference. Other plants sold as nerve plants or mosaic plants need their own identification.
Photo:
Photo details
Potted Fittonia albivenis.jpg
By Why can't i get a cow
License: CC BY-SA 4.0
Resized and converted to WebP for display; botanical details unchanged.
This displayed image is shared under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 license.
Plant identity
- Scientific name
- Fittonia albivenis
- Scope
- Species
- Family
- Acanthaceae
- Also known as
- Nerve Plant, Fittonia verschaffeltii
Find the right spot
How to grow this plant
Container growing guidance for Fittonia albivenis.
- Light
- Medium indirect light or Bright indirect light
Give medium to bright indirect light; direct sun can scorch the leaves.
- Watering
- Keep evenly moist
Avoid letting the mix dry out enough for the plant to wilt, but do not leave it saturated.
- Temperature
- Temperature range not yet established
A normal indoor growing range has not been established in this review.
- Humidity
- Typical indoor humidity
Moderate humidity is suitable; very dry air is undesirable.
- Potting
- Use a well-drained potting mix. Fittonia has shallow roots and is suited to smaller pots; avoid using a large container just to provide extra room.
- Through the year
- Pinch back stems to encourage a fuller plant. Keep away from drafts and dry air that can cause leaves to shrivel.
Growing-guide sources
- fittonia albivenis - Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗NC State Extension · Accessed 2026-11-01
Care guidance for the named taxon; indoor recommendations take precedence over outdoor hardiness information.
Growing advice reviewed 2026-11-01. Plant safety is assessed separately.
Reviewed safety information
- Toxic principle
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
- Reported signs
- Not recorded in the reviewed evidence
Missing information is unknown. It should not be interpreted as an absence of risk.
Safe alternatives
No verified alternative recommendations are available for this guide.
Sources & review
- Nerve Plant ↗ASPCA Poison Control · Accessed
Listed by the source as Fittonia verschaffeltii. Kew identifies Fittonia verschaffeltii (Lem.) Van Houtte as a synonym of Fittonia albivenis. Apply the ASPCA assessment only to that species; do not approve a common-name-only match or another Fittonia species.
- Fittonia verschaffeltii synonym record ↗Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Plants of the World Online · Accessed 2026-10-12
Safety last reviewed .