ZZ - Zamioculcas Zamiifolia - One Year Later

It’s been a while since we wrote about the Zamioculcas zamiifolia also known as the ZZ plant.

More and more email continues to ask about this plant so we wanted to cover it again in a little more detail.

Have you ever seen the TV commercial that says - What’s Up. Well, each year new plants are introduced and growers must go through finding out “What’s Up” with these plants.

Interior plantscapers always look for “new” plants they can use indoors which gives a different look. Growers always look at new items to offer customers something different.

Dozens of new plants are introduced every year. Companies that breed new varieties or locate old unusual plants from collectors, in turn propagate them by the 1000’s. These plants are then introduced to the “trade”.

Allow me to jump on my soapbox for just a moment.

As a plant collector over 20 years ago, it would be easy for me to”introduce” 25 new varieties of plants per year.

Here is the problem… would they do well indoors? Would they have enough light indoors to bring out the colors, hold enough leaves and look good.

Don’t introduce just another plant!!! Introduce a plant that the homeowner and plantscaper can use, not one that looks perfect under ideal conditions.

Sometime I would like to write about my real world education on breeding and new plant introduction. I learned this from one of the world’s most respected breeders of philodendrons and a friend who has passed on. He gave me insight on some plant breeding that I don’t see much of today. If fact, his plants are still grown today.

Off the soapbox

I had to write that because the Zamioculcas is definitely a -"What’s Up" plant. It fits just about every need of what a new indoor plant introduction should be.

• Handles low light
• Low water use
• Tough under indoor conditions
• Handles neglect well

The ZZ has been around for decades. In fact I grew it 20 years ago but wasn’t smart enough to introduce it :).

It is a member of the aroid family along with the philodendron, spathiphyllum and aglaonema. You would never know it though. It looks and resembles the cycad - Zamia furfuracea or cardboard palm.

The base of the plant stalks are swollen from which the stem host dark green, naturally shiny leaves. It’s easy to think that the plant has had leaf shine put on it. Remember, we don’t recommend leaf shine.

One rule that almost all of the BEST indoor plants have is - they grow slow. The ZZ is no exception. It is easy to propagate but develops slowly. Most of the plants are grown from leaf cuttings just as you would a jade plant.

Plants are grown in 4 inch up through 14 inch pots. Large plants can reach 3 feet in height and I have seen a very old plant of 4 foot. The average height of most of the plants grown is about 16 - 28 inches, and the plant can have a wide spread on it. It works well as an accent plant in areas where it can"spread its wings".

Zamioculcas can be put right along side the sanseveira and aspidistra - tough. It handles low light well and the plant even grows.

Even though the plant does well in lower light levels, by placing it in brighter light it performs even better. Keep the plant away from any hot direct afternoon sun as the plant can burn. A good bright filtered afternoon sun would work well.

Don’t let this plant sit in water or stay wet. This plant is better to keep on the dry side. If you water it too much or the plant sits in water you may find yellowing leaves.

A little more about watering from my side. I purposely neglect plants to test their toughness. In my office I have a ZZ which has been inside for about 16 months. Let me tell you - I don’t do anything to it. It looks pretty good considering that I have watered it… Ready for this - drum roll please - 6 times. I’ll try to get a picture of it this week for you.

The best part of the ZZ may not be its toughness, or low light ability or low water requirements - but no insect problems. Or none that anyone has been able to identify.

Eliminating this one element makes caring for your plant much easier. The plant has left you with only a couple of things to manage - light and water, what could be easier.

The downside, yes there always is a downside, is that because the ZZ is slow growing the production is slow. Ask at your favorite plant outlet about the ZZ.

Related Articles

• Zamioculcas zamiifolia - A Tough New Plant - We’ve talked about tough plants currently used in indoors, and promised to introduce to you a new "tough plant". I may be stepping out on a limb with this introduction but let me give you some background on this plant. Zamioculcas is in the aroid family along with the Spathiphyllum, Philodendron, Aglaonema and Anthurium although you
• Majesty Palm - Is it a House Plant or Indoor plant? - There are a lot of great indoor houseplants available at your local nursery or garden center. Most of them will do well in your house if you learn a little something about their care, water and light requirements. For example - Bamboo Palm Beats Majesty! It’s unable to survive stress and you can discover better