Who would have thought that this tropical plant from eastern Africa, with a range from southern Kenya to northern KwaZulu-Natal, would become so insanely popular with houseplant lovers, and the hero of any Instagram-worthy collection of indoor plants? But it did, and continues to be prized for its sculptural shape, and its exotic-looking dark green foliage that is so glossy it almost looks like it’s polished. And, despite its difficult to pronounce scientific name “Zamioculcas zamiifolia” it couldn’t be easier to grow, and doesn’t require pampering or a perfect growing environment to thrive.  If you live in the warmer, frost-free locations of South Africa you can also grow the ZZ plant in the garden, and it looks great in understory plantings in tropical style gardens.

Hadeco sell the ZZ plant online - click here to visit their website.

The ZZ plant has been around so long that it is one of our living fossils, and the botanical name Zamioculcas derives from the superficial similarity of its foliage to that of the cycad genus Zamia.  Click here to see Google images of Zamia. However, although the ZZ plant may look like a Zamia cycad, it actually belongs to the Aroid family, along with the peace lily (Spathiphyllum), philodendrons and anthuriums.

In its native habitat in the dry grasslands and rocky soils of eastern Africa the plant is an herbaceous perennial that dies back to soil level in autumn and remains dormant through the dry winter months, until the spring rains arrive.  It grows about 60cm to 1m tall, or more, with pinnate leaves about 40 to 60cm long, with 6 to 8 pairs of leaflets that are 7 to 15cm long.

The roots of the plant are large, succulent, potato-like rhizomes which store water and nutrients, making the plant drought tolerant. During severe summer droughts the plants will also go completely dormant until the rains return once again.

In its natural habitat, from mid-summer to autumn the plant produces flowers in the form of cream-colored spadices, similar to those of the peace lily. The flowers are small and usually hidden under the base of the leaves.

Click here to see Google images of Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Besides being fondly called the ZZ Plant, it has many other common names, including: Zanzibar Gem, Emerald Palm, Zuzu Plant, Eternity Plant, and Aroid Palm. Dutch nurseries started wide-scale commercial propagation of the plant around 1996, distributing it around the world, and today there are several great dwarf cultivars, and those sporting stunning variegated or deep purple leaves. These are well worth seeking out, and if you can’t find them at a local garden centre, search for online nurseries who sell them.

Cultivars include:

Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Zenzi' is a dwarf variety no taller than 38cm tall with smaller and slightly curled leaves. Click here to see Google images of 'Zenzi'

Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Zamicro' is a dwarf variety that grows around 50cm in height, with a more slender leaf shape. Click here to see Google images of 'Zamicro'.

 Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Black Raven’ grows about 90cm tall, and is one of the newer varieties, and also one of the most dramatic, with leaves that emerge a bright lime-green colour and gradually turn a deep purple to almost black shade as they mature. Click here to see Google images of 'Black Raven’.

Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Variegated' has green foliage enhanced by splashes of creamy white. Variegation is less pronounced if the plant is grown under low-light conditions. Click here to see Google images of 'Variegated'.

Uses:

Though little information is available, Zamioculcas zamiifolia is apparently used medicinally in Malawi, and in Tanzania juice from the leaves is used to treat earache, and the roots are used as a local application to treat ulceration.

In the Garden, Home and Office:

The ZZ plant is a real joy to grow and thrives indoors in bright, indirect light. However the plant is not that fussy about where it is displayed, and also accepts low-light conditions, making it ideal for homes, offices and reception areas with low to medium light. Even if there are no windows, this amazing plant can be grown under fluorescent lighting.

Because the rhizomes store water, the plant does well during droughts, also surviving forgetful owners who often neglect to water them. And, if the weather remains warm, the ZZ plant is just as happy growing in the garden as it is indoors.

Best of all the ZZ plant is also a known air purifier, with studies showing that it is adept at removing copious amounts of toxins such as xylene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and benzene from the air.

Cultivation:

When growing the ZZ plant, bear in mind that it is a tropical plant and will only survive outdoors if the temperatures do not fall below 5°C. For this reason it is grown as a houseplant in temperate regions.

Optimal growth is produced in temperatures between 18 and 26°C, and average household humidity levels are fine, but avoid placing your plant near air conditioning and heating vents, which could dry out the air and cause browning of the leaves.

Although the plant will take low to moderate light indoors, it really thrives in rooms with bright, indirect light. Insufficient light indoors or outdoors can be indicated by leaf lengthening. If you are growing outdoors the plant will tolerate a little sun, but too much direct sunlight will burn the leaves.

Many people mention it's a slow grower, however, in warm gardens it can develop reasonably quickly, and indoors growth rate is affected by temperature and the amount of light available.

One of the main reasons for the death of the ZZ plant is over watering, especially if it is grown as a houseplant. In low light situations the plant will require less water than one grown in a warm, bright room. During spring and summer, when the plant is actively growing, water only when the top 3 to 4cm of soil is dry to the touch, or even when the soil is totally dry. During the winter months growth will slow down and watering should be greatly reduced. To take the guesswork out of watering potted plants, invest in a water meter.

The plant requires soil that has perfect drainage, and for potted specimens, a good potting soil for succulents is ideal. Good drainage holes at the bottom of the pot are essential, and it is important to never allow your plant to stand in a drip tray full of water. Rather raise the pots by standing them on small pebbles, and you can then allow some water to stand in the tray as it will slowly evaporate and create humidity around the leaves.

Because ZZ plants can also store nutrients in their roots, they don’t need frequent fertilisation. During active growth, feed every month or two, using an all-purpose houseplant fertiliser, diluted to half the recommended rate. Stop feeding in autumn.

Keeping your plant dust-free will keep it looking good, and is also good for its health because the leaves will be able take in more sunlight. Misting the leaves down occasionally until they are dripping wet will remove the dust, and if they are very dirty, use lukewarm water with an added drop or two of dishwashing liquid. Avoid using leaf-shine as the plant has naturally shiny leaves, and leaf-shine may damage them.

Pruning is not required and it won’t encourage new growth as with most other houseplants, so only remove yellowing or damaged foliage. If your plant is very overgrown, you can remove entire stalks by cutting them away at the base with a sharp knife or pruning scissors.

Because the ZZ plant is a slow grower and doesn’t mind living in cramped quarters, you won’t need to repot it often. Because its rhizomes spread laterally, its width is controlled by the diameter of the pot it is growing in. Repotting can be undertaken at any time but is usually done in spring.

If you want your plant to grow larger, repot every year or two into a slightly bigger pot. If you don’t want your plant to grow too large you can repot it every two years, replanting it into the same pot again. Remove the plant and gently shake off as much of the old soil as you can, before pruning away overgrown roots and stems. Replant with fresh potting soil and water.

Propagation:

The ZZ plant is very easy to propagate from leaf cuttings, as you would grow succulents, from individual leaves. The lower ends of detached leaves are inserted into a moist, gritty growth medium and watered moderately. The cuttings should be placed in a pot with a plastic covering and they could take several months to begin growing. The original leaves may well decay, but eventually succulent, bulb-like structures should form in the compost and these may be potted up to produce new plants.

Another method is to take a cutting with two leaves and a bit of stem. Be patient as the cuttings can take several months to grow.

A much easier and faster propagation method is to cut off an entire leaf stalk at the base of the plant and simply place it in water until roots form.

The plant can also be propagated by dividing the rhizomes into clumps with at least one leaf stalk, and replanting the divisions into new pots filled with fresh soil. A good time to do this is when you are repotting.

Problems, Pests & Diseases:

The easiest mistake to make, and the most common, is overwatering, which will cause root rot and often death. A small amount of lower leaves turning yellow and falling is quite normal, but if many leaves are turning yellow, and especially if the stalks are turning brown and mushy, it is overwatering.

Leaves turning brown can also indicate overwatering, especially if the leaflet feels a bit damp and not dry. You can save your plant if you prune off the mushy or damaged parts and wait until your plant totally dries out before watering again, but to be sure it may be best to remove the plant and gently take away the saturated soil, replacing it with fresh potting soil. Do not water for quite a while after repotting to give the rhizomes a chance to recover.

If the leaves are falling off, this is usually a survival mechanism due to severe under watering. The plant is shedding leaves to reduce the water loss through its leaves. If you are certain that you haven’t under watered the plant, then this may be because of overwatering.

If your plant is leaning to one side, overwatering is the most common cause, resulting in waterlogged roots that can no longer provide good support. Your plant may also be seeking more light. Try moving it closer to a window or grow under fluorescent lighting or LED grow lights.

If the tips of the leaves turn brown the most likely cause is dry air and low humidity, but it can also be under watering, or exposure to bright sunlight. Check that you are not keeping the soil dry for too long, move your plant to a location that receives indirect light, and if the air is dry, mist the leaves occasionally with water to increase humidity.

ZZ plants are generally pest-free but may occasionally be bothered by mealybugs, scale, aphids, and spider mites. Good treatments for getting rid of these insects include washing the leaves with an insecticidal soap and applying organic neem oil.

Warning:

All parts of the plant are toxic if consumed.

In the past there were false rumours flying around that the ZZ plant was so toxic that it caused cancer, and it was considered so dangerous that people wore gloves when handling it. The truth is, although it is toxic it is not cancerous. Don’t eat it, keep it away from nibbling pets and overly curious children, and wear gloves, or wash your hands after handling it to avoid skin irritation.