Goldfish Plant
Nematanthus gregarius · Clog Plant
It grows perched on trees in the humid Atlantic Forest of southeastern Brazil, a trailing epiphyte with small, glossy, fleshy leaves. Its flowers are pinched orange pouches that genuinely look like a school of fat little goldfish, and the plant is pet-safe.
Family
Gesneriaceae
Origin
Southeastern Brazil
In the wild
Tree-perched epiphyte
Indoors
Trails to 1 m
Growth
Moderate
With pets
Non-toxic
Where it's from
The Atlantic Forest of Brazil
Brazil only
The whole genus is endemic to Brazil, around 34 species, all of them living in the Atlantic Forest.
Outdoors: zones 10b–11
Frost-tender. Outdoors only in mild, frost-free, humid climates, indoors everywhere cooler.
A shrinking home
The Atlantic Forest is one of the world's most fragmented and threatened biomes, so habitat loss presses on its wild relatives.
An African violet cousin
Each bloom is a pinched, pot-bellied orange pouch that genuinely reads as a fat little goldfish, guppy or clog, which is how it earned all its common names. It is a member of the African-violet family, yet most owners never realise it is a cousin of their violets. Old labels still call it Hypocyrta, a genus now folded into Nematanthus.
A pouch, not a trumpet
The flower is pinched and puckered into a fat orange pouch under an inch long.
Family resemblance hidden
It sits in the gesneriad family alongside African violets and lipstick plants.
Thread flower
The name is Greek for thread and flower, after the long thread-like stalks of the type species.
How to keep it
LightBright, filtered
It needs good light to flower, but avoid prolonged harsh direct sun, which scorches the leaves.
WaterWhen top inch dry
Water thoroughly when the top inch dries, then let it drain freely. Ease off in winter. Soggy roots rot.
HumidityModerate to highAppreciates higher humidity, reflecting its rainforest origin, but tolerates average rooms.
Temperature15–24°CCannot tolerate below about 10°C. Protect from cold drafts and sudden drops.
SoilLight, well-drainedA free-draining but moisture-retentive mix, acid to neutral. Soft water preferred.
FeedingEvery 2–4 weeks in growthA dilute balanced feed through spring and summer. Taper in winter.
DifficultyEasyForgiving and quick to rebloom. A good beginner flowering plant.
With petsNon-toxicListed non-toxic to cats, dogs and horses. One of the genuinely pet-safe flowering houseplants.
PropagationStem cuttingsSoftwood tip cuttings root readily in moist mix in spring. Pinching tips keeps it bushy.
RepottingEvery 2–3 yearsIt flowers best slightly pot-bound, so do not over-pot. Repot in spring.
What the data says
What it costs
A mass-propagated commodity, widely sold as a hanging basket. No collector bubble.
$10–25
Large established baskets and named or variegated cultivars like Tropicana and Black Gold run $25 to $60.
IUCN · Not assessed
In the wild
Mass-produced on windowsills while its genus lives only in a shrinking slice of Brazilian rainforest.
The species itself does not appear to be individually assessed, but the genus is entirely endemic to Brazil's Atlantic Forest, one of the most fragmented biomes on Earth. Several newly described relatives carry threatened assessments. Thriving in our homes, its wild habitat under pressure.
When it sulks
No flowersToo little light, too much nitrogen, or no slight pot-bound stress. Give brighter indirect light.
Leaf drop and leggy bare stemsLow light, dry air or cold drafts. Pinch back to force branching.
Mushy stemsRoot rot from overwatering or poor drainage. It is an epiphyte, so never leave it soggy.
Brown, scorched leavesToo much direct sun, or cold dry air.
PestsAphids are the main pest. Watch for spider mites and mealybugs in dry indoor air.
Varieties & company
The varieties
TropicanaBlack GoldChristmas HollyGolden West
Pairs with · keep apart from
African VioletColumneaRhipsalisAloeEcheveriaSnake Plant
A new plant, every week.
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