Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Common Names

ZZ Plant, Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Eternity Plant, Aroid Palm, Emerald Palm

Summary

ZZ plant is an undemanding evergreen tropical perennial native to eastern Africa, growing from fleshy rhizomes that store water. It features thick stems with glossy, waxy pinnate leaves; each leaf comprises elliptic leaflets arranged along the petiole, typically 6–8 pairs up to 6 inches long. The plant is slow-growing and drought-tolerant, commonly reaching about 2–4 ft tall and wide, and may produce small, inconspicuous flowers (spadix with green spathe) rarely indoors.

Care basics include tolerance of low to bright indirect light, with a preference for well-draining soil. Water when the top layer dries, avoiding overwatering; maintain temperatures roughly 60–75°F and average indoor humidity. Fertilize lightly with a diluted liquid fertilizer twice per year; propagate by division or leaf cuttings. The plant is generally pest-free, but all parts are toxic if ingested by people or pets; commonly used as indoor decor and prized for air-purifying qualities that remove benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

2-3 feet

Spread

2-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 9-10

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally partial shade.

Soil Type

Well-draining soil, typically a well-draining potting mix or cactus/succulent mix with loamy texture and added perlite or sand, neutral to slightly acidic (pH 6.1–6.5)

Soil Drainage

Well-draining soil.

Soil pH

6.0-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Yellow

Bloom Time

Summer to early Fall

Foliage Color

Green (ranging from bright lime to emerald; often dark and glossy)

Fall Foliage Color

Dark green

Leaf Lifecycle

Evergreen broadleaf

Growth Rate

Slow-growing

Seasons of Interest

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Propagation Methods

Division, Leaf cuttings, Stem cuttings, Rhizome division