Zanzibar gem (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Zanzibar gem, better known in U.S. homes as the ZZ plant, is a houseplant with glossy leaves. Its thick underground stems store water.

Appearance

Appearance: Each upright leaf carries rows of smooth, shiny leaflets.
Growth form: This is a slow-growing perennial herb, usually 2–4 ft (0.6–1.2 m) tall in cultivation.
Flowers: Small pale flowers appear within a green sheath near the base, but flowering indoors is uncommon.

Look-alikes

Cardboard palmZamia furfuracea

Cardboard palm has stiff, leathery leaflets rising from a short, thick trunk. ZZ plant has glossier leaflets on fleshy upright stalks that rise from underground stems.

Why they get mixed upBoth have rows of leaflets on upright leaves.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: Indoor pots
Shaded tropical gardens
Range: It is native to eastern and southern Africa. In the United States, it is grown mainly as a houseplant and can grow outdoors in the warmest areas.
Preferred conditions: It grows in partial to deep shade with well-drained soil.

Growing it

Propagation: It can be propagated by dividing a clump or rooting individual leaflets.
Toxicity: The leaves contain and can irritate the mouth if eaten.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: The cultivated form 'Raven' grows leaves that darken to nearly black.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Status: South Africa classifies the species as Least Concern nationally.

Culture and stories

Culture and stories: The word zamiifolia points to leaflets that resemble those of Zamia, an unrelated plant.

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