ZZ Plant

The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is an evergreen perennial in the arum family, native to eastern Africa. Its abbreviated name comes from its tongue-twisting botanical name.

It grows from thick underground rhizomes that store water, allowing it to tolerate extended drought and very low light — earning it nicknames like the 'eternity plant.' Its stems are lined with paired, glossy leaflets that look almost artificial in their sheen.

A newer dark cultivar, 'Raven,' emerges bright green and matures to near-black foliage. The ZZ plant is among the most low-maintenance houseplants available.

• Leaves: Glossy, dark green, oval leaflets arranged in pairs along arching stems; thick and waxy with a near-plastic sheen
• Stems: Smooth, upright to arching, thickened at the base
• Rhizomes: Large, potato-like underground rhizomes that store water
• Habit: Upright clumping, typically 2-3 feet tall indoors
• Cultivars: 'Raven' features near-black mature foliage

Light: Tolerates low light very well but grows fastest in bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun.

Water: Water sparingly, letting the soil dry out almost completely between waterings — typically every 2-4 weeks. Overwatering is the only reliable way to kill it.

Soil: Well-draining potting mix.

Temperature: Prefers 60-80°F (15-27°C).

Feeding: Light feeding once or twice during the growing season.

Propagation: Divide the rhizomes, or root individual leaflets in soil (slow but reliable).

Zamioculcas zamiifolia is native to eastern Africa, from Kenya and Tanzania (including Zanzibar) south to South Africa, where it grows in dry grasslands and forest, surviving long dry seasons thanks to its water-storing rhizomes.

It is grown outdoors only in frost-free tropical climates and otherwise worldwide as a hardy, low-light houseplant.