Fittonia Acanthaceae : Popular indoor plant

Fittonia is a popular choice for fans of windowsill gardens. Though well-known in some circles, it's not yet common in homes. Growing fittonia lets gardeners show off something unique.

Fittonia belongs to the Acanthaceae family. It includes only four perennial species from South America. Most fittonias creep, but one grows upright. People mainly grow two types at home:

Fittonia verschaffeltii and silver-veined. Their leaves are very appealing. The base color is olive-green. Silver or bright pink veins cross the leaves, depending on the type.

Fittonia flowers are small and not very showy. The white or yellow blooms are hard to see against the leaves. The leaves are always the main attraction.

These plants are new to our homes. They were named after the Fitton sisters. These women wrote the first botany textbook in the early 1800s. The plant's name honors their work.