Forest floor of tropical northern and western South America, mainly Peru
Water
freshwater
Maximum size
15 cm
Temperature
16–28°C
Care level
expert
Lighting
Bright, indirect light (grown out of water)
Care
Warning: Fittonia is a land (or at most bog) plant, not a true aquatic plant. Kept fully underwater it slowly weakens and dies, often over several months, so it is best grown emersed in a paludarium or with only its roots in water. Fittonia argyroneura is the silver-veined form of the nerve plant, now usually treated as part of Fittonia albivenis, the most commonly grown Fittonia. It is a low evergreen perennial of South American forest floors, 10–15 cm tall, spreading as a ground cover, with green leaves netted in white (or, in other forms, pink) veins. It wants constantly moist soil, humid air and bright indirect light, and stays above about 13 °C. It wilts quickly when the surface dries but recovers once watered; water from below to keep the leaves dry and avoid mildew. In a paludarium or closed terrarium it is an excellent plant, but it should be kept out of the water. Sources: Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fittonia); Wikipedia, List of freshwater aquarium plant species. Checked October 2026.
Breeding
Easy from stem cuttings or trimmed tips: root them in water in bright indirect light, or straight into moist sphagnum, coco fibre, perlite or LECA. New leaves appear within weeks.
Compatibility and tank mates
Do not sell or buy this as a true aquarium plant. It belongs in a paludarium, terrarium or on a windowsill with its roots in water, out of reach of fish.
Last updated 8 October 2026. Community-edited care guide on Aquatic-Auctions.
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