Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- zam-ee-oh-KUL-kass zam-ee-FOH-lee-uh
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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ZZ plant is an easy to grow succulent houseplant in the Araceae (ariod) family native to Africa. The species name means with leaves like Zamia which is an unrelated genus.
It is one of the easiest to grow low maintenance houseplants and is seen frequently in commercial interiorscapes. It will slowly reach a mature height and spread of 2 to 3 feet.
It has bulbous fleshy rhizomes that give rise to pinnately compound glossy leaves with thick petioles that store water and make it highly drought tolerant. The leaves are oval in shape and fleshy giving it a waxy appearance. The blooms are a white spadix and green spathe though they only appear on mature plant.
Plant in well-drained potting soil that is watered routinely but allowed to dry out between waterings as wet feet are not tolerated. Water it only once a month in winter months when it goes dormant upping watering to twice monthly in the summer but only if the soil has dried out completely. Use a balanced fertilizer once or twice a year. This plant can be treated in much the same way as cactus and other succulent plants. While they will grow in very low levels of light, even in areas with only fluorescent light, they do best with bright indirect sunlight. Scalding and browning of leaves can occur if the plant is placed in direct sunlight.
In some areas, it may be possible to grow this plant in a container outdoors if it is brought in once the temperature falls below 60 degrees F.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious problems.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Dowon'
- Tags:
































- Cultivars / Varieties:
- 'Dowon'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Zamioculcas
- Species:
- zamiifolia
- Family:
- Araceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Leaf Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Africa
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Succulent
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Arching
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- Low
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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)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 9b, 9a, 10b, 10a
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Green
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spadix
- Flower Description:
- Rarely flowers. Sheath-like green spathe surrounds a white spadix.(an upright spike of creamy white flowers)
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Semi-evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Fleshy
- Glossy
- Leathery
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Long-lasting
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Elliptical
- Ovate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Pinnately compound glossy green leaves with thick petioles that can grow up to 2-4' long. Around 25 leaflets, each elliptic and about 1-2" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- 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.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Houseplants
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Problems:
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs