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Jet-Black Raven Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Dowon'

Other Common Name(s):

Description

Raven™ ZZ is a tropical succulent houseplant cultivar with lime green new growth that turns a dramatic purple-black color as it ages.  It stores water in its thick petioles an a tuber-like rhizome making it an easy to grow houseplant that withstands even dark conditions.  Water it only once a month in winter months when it goes dormant upping watering to twice monthly in the summer.

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Zamioculcas zamiifolia.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#houseplant#container plant#easy to grow#purple leaves#showy leaves#black leaves#glossy#lime green leaves#problem for cats#problem for dogs
 
Form
Form Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
Pinnately compound leaf.
Purple-black pinnately compound leaf. Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
Leaf margin is smooth.
Leaf margin is smooth. Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
Fleshy petioles store water.
Fleshy petioles store water. Kathleen Moore CC BY 4.0
Cultivars / Varieties:
Tags:
#houseplant#container plant#easy to grow#purple leaves#showy leaves#black leaves#glossy#lime green leaves#problem for cats#problem for dogs
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Zamioculcas
    Species:
    zamiifolia
    Family:
    Araceae
    Life Cycle:
    Perennial
    Dimensions:
    Height: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 0 ft. 6 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Houseplant
    Succulent
    Growth Rate:
    Slow
    Maintenance:
    Low
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
    Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Brown/Copper
    Gray/Silver
    Green
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Spadix
    Flower Description:
    Rarely flowers. Spathe is green and spadix is brown to grey. It does not often bloom, if it does indoors the plant could be unhappy with its conditions.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Black
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Feel:
    Glossy
    Leathery
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    3-6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Pinnately compound, shiny lime green new growth turns purple/black with age. Leaflet shape is ovate with thick petioles.
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Black
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Cross Section:
    Round
    Stem Description:
    Thick, fleshy stems from a rhizome. They start out broad and taper towards the top.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Houseplants
    Problems:
    Problem for Cats
    Problem for Dogs