Can anyone tell me what type of plant this is? The leaves are a waxy green. This plant trails down over the container. I have two boys ages 18 months and 4. I need to know if this plant could be toxic to my children. Thank you- Heather
I think that your plant may be a member of the Gesneriad family, either a Nematanthus or a Columnea. There are many varieties in this family so seeing the flower would help with the identification. Has it ever flowered and can you describe the flower?
Thanks for replying so quickly. This plant has never flowered. I'm pretty sure it's not a flowering plant. When I bought it at the store it was not flowering. I've had the plant for 9 months. Thanks-Heather
given some time and the right lighting it will .. here is some info on them .. http://www.denverplants.com/foliage/html/nemablkgol.htm Marn
Just because it hasn't flowered in 9 months doesn't mean its not a flowering plant, i do think it is a type of goldfish plant, and it may just be too young to bloom yet, or it might not be getting enought light or fertillizer to bloom. They also like to be root bound before they bloom.
There are several sites on the web that talk about the toxicity of houseplants. The ones I looked at didn't specifically mention Nematanthus(the Goldfish plant) but African Violets and Aeschynanthus which are in the same big family are non-toxic. However, to be on the safe side, it is probably a good idea to keep any plants out of the reach of small children unless you are sure that it is non-toxic.
