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Candycorn Plant

Nematanthus gregarius (nee-ma-TAN-thus gre-GAR-ee-us)

Family: Gesneriaceae Unknown Shrub

The Goldfish Plant is a flowering, perennial, tropical plant that likes light shade. This plant is in the family Gesneriaceae and native to southeast Brazil. it is a relatively large plant reaching 1 1/2 feet tall at maturity with a 3 foot spread. It has small, fleshy leaves and bright orange, pouch-like flowers vaguely resembling goldfish in shape. The Goldfish Plant is an epiphyte, which is a non-parasitic plant that grows on other plants, such as trees, for support and obtains moisture and nutrients from the surrounding environment using its root system. Outside of its native, tropical, environment, the Goldfish Plant, which cannot tolerate temperatures below 50 degrees F, is typically used as an indoor houseplant. To grow indoors as a houseplant, place the plant in peat-free potting compost in bright, filtered light, watering with soft water. Site the plant near a south-facing window, but not in full sun for extended periods of time. It has a trailing habit, so you might want to consider growing it in a hanging basket. Diseses, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases. Can be susceptible to aphids.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 33 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 3 - Shrub Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Epiphyte; Perennial; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial
USDA zones
10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
3 - Shrub
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Creeping
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf feel
Fleshy; Glossy
Hairs present
No
Flower color
Orange
Flower value
Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Clusters of bright orange, oddly shaped, 1 inch flowers that appear in summer.
Bloom time
Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
Brazil
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Hanging Baskets; Houseplants
Design feature
Specimen
Garden tags
#non-toxic for cats #non-toxic for horses #non-toxic for dogs #epiphytic #houseplant #tropical #trailing #indoor #container plant #subshrub #compact
Problems & Resistance
Propagation
Root Cutting; Stem Cutting

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.