General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade
Partial or Dappled Shade
Water Preferences: Mesic
Dry Mesic
Soil pH Preferences: Slightly acid (6.1 – 6.5)
Minimum cold hardiness: Zone 9a -6.7 °C (20 °F) to -3.9 °C (25 °F)
Plant Height: 1 to 3 feet; depending on growing conditions, the plant may attain heights to 4 feet.
Plant Spread: 1 to 3 feet
Leaves: Evergreen
Other: Shiny, leather-like leaves. Evergreen unless underwatered in which case plant can go dormant.
Fruiting Time: Year Round
Other: Globose, white berries containing 1 to 2 seeds.
Flowers: Inconspicuous
Other: Aroid spathe and spadix
Flower Color: Yellow
Bloom Size: Under 1"
1"-2"
Flower Time: Late summer or early fall
Year Round
Inflorescence Height: 1-2 inches
Underground structures: Rhizome
Suitable Locations: Houseplant
Resistances: Powdery Mildew
Tolerates dry shade
Humidity tolerant
Drought tolerant
Toxicity: Leaves are poisonous
Fruit is poisonous
Other: All parts of plant contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant to the mouth and esophagus. Toxic to cats and dogs.
Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem
Cuttings: Tip
Cuttings: Leaf
Division
Pollinators: Various insects
Containers: Suitable in 1 gallon
Needs excellent drainage in pots
Prefers to be under-potted
Miscellaneous: Tolerates poor soil
Goes Dormant
Awards and Recognitions: RHS AGM

Image
Common names
  • ZZ Plant
  • Zanzibar Gem
  • Aroid Palm
  • Succulent Philodendron

Photo Gallery
Location: My House, Utah Date: 2014-04-04
Location: CA Date: 6/1/2020
Location: My House, Utah Date: 2014-04-03
Location: CA Date: 6/1/2020
Location: At our garden - San Joaquin County, CA Date: 18 Apr 2014 Rootball and close-up of roots and rhizome of ZZ plant
Location: CA Date: 6/1/2020
Uploaded by Hamwild
Date: 2018-04-12
Location: Tampa, FL Date: 2023-10-18
Date: 2020-08-06
Location: Jacksonville, Fl. Date: 2015-08-28
Date: September 19, 2011
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (Mobot) in St Louis Date: 2016-06-18
Location: Tampa, FL Date: 2023-11-19
Location: The Natural State (Arkansas) Date: 2022-01-11
Location: Fairfax, VA
Date: 2016-09-15
Date: 2016-09-15
Date: 2018-04-12
Location: Missouri Botanical Gardens Date: 2023-09-10 ZZ Plant "Araceae"
Date: 2017-03-08
Date: 2017-03-08
Date: December 2007
Date: 2016-09-15
Location: Northeastern, Texas Date: 2017-05-17 A flower after 8 years
Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah Date: 2011-11-05 At a nursery
Location: Fairfax, VA | April, 2023 Date: 2023-04-05
Uploaded by Hamwild
Location: TX, USA Date: 2017-08-11 Photographer: Rhonda Hartsfield
Date: September 19, 2011 Roots, tuber, stem and leaves
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (Mobot) in St Louis Date: 2016-06-18
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden (Mobot) in St Louis Date: 2016-06-18
Location: Cano Negro, Costa Rica | December 2022 Date: 2022-12-19
Uploaded by sedumzz
Date: 2013-07-12
Date: 2013-01-04
Location: Frisco Tx Date: 2013-03-23 2 flowers
Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah Date: 2011-11-05 At a nursery
Date: 2020-12-13 Early signs of overwatering.
Location: Indoors - San Joaquin County, CA Date: 2015-07-25 New leaves finally from slow growing ZZ plant
Date: 2018-11-29
Date: 2018-11-29
Location: Islamabad Date: 28-10-2013
Location: Corvallis, Oregon Date: Feb 3, 2012 Photo taken at Home Grown Gardens Nursery
Date: 2019-06-03
  • Uploaded by jon
Uploaded by Plantomaniac08
Location: Southwest Florida Date: March 2015 newly emerging leaf
Location: DFW, Texas (zone 8) Date: 2016-04-14 Indoors in part shade
Date: 2013-01-04
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI Date: 2009-01-17
Location: English Gardens, West Bloomfield, MI Date: 2009-01-17
Date: 2014-12-29
Location: Pleasant Grove, Utah Date: 2011-11-05 At a nursery
Location: At home - San Joaquin County, CA Date: 2013-05-30 New leaf growth on our ZZ plant
Date: 2012-12-17
Date: 2012-12-17
Date: 2012-12-17
Date: 2012-12-28
Location: Corvallis, Oregon Date: Feb 3, 2012 Photo taken at Home Grown Gardens Nursery
Date: 2012-12-28
Location: Islamabad Date: 31-10-2013
Location: At home - San Joaquin County, CA Date: 2013-06-11 ZZ plant new leaves forming and unfurling
Date: September 19, 2011
Location: Maidstone UK Date: 2024-03-20 Unusually looking leaves branch
This plant is tagged in:
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Comments:
  • Posted by DavidLMO (Zone 5B/6 - NW MO - Zone 5b) on Sep 22, 2015 11:23 PM concerning plant:
    Be extremely watchful of watering this plant. It is easily killed (more so than an average plant) by overwatering - I learned the hard way.
    Reply to this comment
  • Posted by plantladylin (Sebastian, Florida - Zone 10a) on Sep 19, 2011 10:21 AM concerning plant:
    The ZZ plant is used as a landscape shrub in warm climates but here in my zone 9b area it froze and died in last winter's freezes. Luckily I had rooted a couple of stems in a jar of water so I still have two very small plants to grow out. I find the "ZZ" plant to be an easy (although slow) water rooter. It seemed to take a long while before the first thin roots appeared and then the bulb/tuber formed. I acclimated it slowly to soil.
    Reply to this comment
  • Posted by sheryl (Hot, hot, hot, Feenix, AZ - Zone 9b) on Dec 8, 2011 7:43 PM concerning plant:
    Popular houseplant as it survives in low light with infrequent water. Multiple thick stalks support shiny dark green leaves. An abundance of water can send it into bloom. The blooms are not showy and consist of a light green hood or spathe with a beige spadex, resembling a jack in the pulpit.
    Reply to this comment
  • Posted by jmorth (central Illinois) on Dec 22, 2015 2:12 AM concerning plant:
    In 2002 was named The indoor Foliage Plant of the Year by the Florida Nurserymen's and Growers' Association.
    Reply to this comment
Plant Events from our members
piksihk On October 23, 2014 Obtained plant
bulbs developed - leaf dried up; 2 bulbs
piksihk On June 13, 2014 Obtained plant
3 leaves for rooting
skylark From February 15, 2018 to February 26, 2018 Miscellaneous Event
downsized
skylark On May 1, 2015 Obtained plant
got new zz
hlutzow On January 8, 2020 Obtained plant
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Root ball and rhizomes of ZZ plant by tarev Apr 19, 2014 11:50 PM 0
Is this a Cycad? by Gina1960 Nov 3, 2018 10:53 AM 6

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