Zamioculcas zamiifolia, commonly known as the ZZ plant, belongs to the Araceae family, closely related to peace lilies and philodendrons. Its other names include Zanzibar Gem, Eternity Plant, and Aroid Palm, reflecting its exotic appeal and durability.
The ZZ plant was first discovered in Eastern Africa in the 1800s and gained popularity as a houseplant in the 1990s due to its resilience and low-maintenance nature. Dutch nurseries began mass-propagating it, making it a global favorite for indoor gardening.
Native to Eastern Africa, particularly Zanzibar, Tanzania, and Kenya, the ZZ plant thrives in dry, grassy regions and rocky soils. It grows naturally in shaded understories, adapting to low light and infrequent water, ideal for indoor environments.
Z plants are recognized by their glossy, dark green, pinnate leaves, with smooth, waxy leaflets arranged on upright stems. Their thick, rhizomatous roots store water, enabling drought tolerance. Cultivars like Raven ZZ feature near-black foliage, while others may show variegation.
ZZ plants are prized as ornamental houseplants for their sleek appearance and ability to thrive in low light. They’re air-purifying, removing toxins like benzene, and are often used in homes, offices, or as low-maintenance decor gifts.
Types of ZZ Plants
Classic ZZ
The Classic ZZ, or standard Zamioculcas zamiifolia, is the most common variety, featuring upright, pinnate leaves with smooth, glossy, dark green leaflets. Its resilience makes it ideal for beginners, thriving in low to bright indirect light and requiring infrequent watering. This variety is air-purifying and can grow up to 3 feet tall.
Raven ZZ
The Raven ZZ, also known as “Dowon,” is a sought-after cultivar with striking, nearly black foliage that emerges green and darkens over time. Its deep, moody color adds a dramatic flair to interiors, and it retains the classic ZZ’s hardiness, tolerating low light and drought. This variety is slower-growing but highly prized for its unique aesthetic.
Zamicro ZZ
The Zamicro ZZ is a dwarf variety, characterized by its smaller, more compact growth compared to the standard ZZ. Its leaves are shorter but maintain the glossy, dark green appearance. Ideal for small spaces or desks, it’s just as low-maintenance, thriving in low light and needing water only every few weeks.
Variegated ZZ
Variegated ZZ plants feature leaves with creamy yellow or white streaks, adding a vibrant contrast to the typical dark green foliage. This rare cultivar requires brighter indirect light to maintain its variegation and is slightly less hardy than the classic ZZ. Its unique coloring makes it a collector’s favorite.
ZZ Zenzi
The ZZ Zenzi is a compact, dense variety with tightly clustered, slightly curled leaves that give it a fuller appearance. Its smaller stature makes it perfect for tabletops or shelves. Like other ZZs, it’s low-maintenance, tolerating neglect and low light, but it grows more slowly due to its dwarf nature.
ZZ Eternity
ZZ Eternity is a newer cultivar known for its robust, upright growth and slightly larger leaflets than the classic ZZ. Its deep green, glossy foliage is highly resilient, making it suitable for various indoor conditions. This variety is favored for its bold, architectural look in larger spaces.
Supernova ZZ
The Supernova ZZ is a darker variant, similar to Raven, with deep green to near-black foliage that gives it a luxurious, velvety appearance. It grows slightly taller than the classic ZZ and prefers moderate indirect light to enhance its rich color. Its striking look makes it a standout in modern decor.
ZZ Chameleon
ZZ Chameleon is a rare variegated type with leaves that transition from bright green to yellow or cream as they mature, creating a dynamic, multicolored effect. It requires brighter light to sustain its variegation and is less common, making it a prized find for plant enthusiasts.
ZZ Lucky
The ZZ Lucky, sometimes marketed as a novelty, features slightly lighter green foliage with a more pronounced upright structure. It’s similar to the classic ZZ but often sold as a “good luck” plant due to its vibrant, healthy appearance. It’s easy to care for and adaptable to various environments.
ZZ Dwarf Raven
The ZZ Dwarf Raven combines the compact growth of Zamicro with the dark, almost black foliage of the Raven ZZ. Its smaller size and deep color make it a unique choice for collectors looking for a striking yet space-saving plant. It thrives in low light and requires minimal care.
ZZ Zanzibar Gem
Zanzibar Gem is another name for the classic ZZ plant, often used in marketing to highlight its exotic origins. It has the same glossy, dark green leaves and hardy nature, thriving in low light and surviving extended periods without water. Its durability makes it a staple in offices and homes.
ZZ Black Raven
The ZZ Black Raven is a close relative of the Raven ZZ, with even darker, almost jet-black foliage that develops as the plant matures. It’s slightly slower-growing but just as tough, tolerating low light and infrequent watering. Its bold color is perfect for dramatic indoor displays.
ZZ Compacta
ZZ Compacta is a shorter, denser version of the classic ZZ, with tightly packed leaflets that create a bushy appearance. It’s ideal for small spaces and maintains the same low-maintenance traits, thriving in low light and requiring water only when the soil is completely dry.
ZZ Starlight
ZZ Starlight is a rare variegated cultivar with white or cream speckles across its dark green leaves, resembling a starry night sky. It needs bright indirect light to preserve its unique pattern and is less forgiving than other ZZs, making it a bit more challenging for beginners.
ZZ Super Nova
The ZZ Super Nova is similar to the Supernova but with an even more pronounced dark green to black coloration and a slightly more compact growth pattern. Its rich, glossy leaves make it a favorite for adding contrast to plant collections, and it’s as low-maintenance as the classic ZZ.
ZZ Akebono
The ZZ Akebono is a rare variegated cultivar with striking green leaves splashed with creamy yellow or white variegation, often in irregular patterns. Its name, meaning “dawn” in Japanese, reflects its bright, eye-catching foliage. This variety requires brighter indirect light to maintain its variegation and is slightly more demanding than the classic ZZ.
ZZ Raven Compact
The ZZ Raven Compact is a smaller version of the Raven ZZ, featuring the same deep, almost black foliage but with a more compact, bushy growth habit. Ideal for small spaces, it retains the hardiness of its parent, thriving in low light and needing minimal watering, making it a stylish, low-maintenance option.
ZZ Green Giant
The ZZ Green Giant is a larger cultivar with broader, more robust leaves than the classic ZZ, giving it a bold, architectural presence. Its glossy, dark green foliage can reach up to 4 feet in height, making it ideal for statement pieces in spacious rooms. It’s as drought-tolerant and low-light-friendly as other ZZs.
ZZ Emerald Palm
The ZZ Emerald Palm, sometimes marketed as a premium classic ZZ, features vibrant, glossy green leaves with a slightly more upright and fuller growth pattern. Its lush appearance makes it a favorite for adding tropical vibes to interiors, and it thrives with minimal care in various light conditions.
ZZ Lucky Classic
The ZZ Lucky Classic is a variation of the standard ZZ, often marketed for its symbolic association with good fortune. It has the same dark green, glossy leaves and upright structure but is typically sold in decorative pots for gifting. Its care requirements are identical to the classic ZZ.
ZZ Dwarf Eternity
The ZZ Dwarf Eternity is a compact version of the ZZ Eternity, with shorter, densely packed leaves that create a fuller, more rounded appearance. Its smaller size makes it perfect for tabletops or shelves, and it maintains the same resilience, tolerating low light and infrequent watering.
ZZ Black Star
The ZZ Black Star is a dark-leaved cultivar similar to the Raven, with deep green to nearly black foliage that gives it a striking, modern look. It grows slightly slower than the classic ZZ but is just as hardy, thriving in low light and requiring minimal maintenance, ideal for dramatic decor.
ZZ Speckled
The ZZ Speckled is a rare variegated type with subtle white or cream speckles across its dark green leaves, creating a delicate, textured appearance. It needs bright indirect light to maintain its unique pattern and is less common, making it a prized addition for plant enthusiasts.
ZZ Mini Zenzi
The ZZ Mini Zenzi is an even smaller version of the ZZ Zenzi, with tightly clustered, curled leaves that form a dense, compact mound. Perfect for tiny spaces like windowsills, it’s extremely low-maintenance and thrives in low to moderate light, making it ideal for beginners.
ZZ Dark Knight
The ZZ Dark Knight is a cultivar with exceptionally dark, glossy foliage, leaning closer to black than green, similar to the Raven but with a slightly more upright structure. Its bold color makes it a standout, and it shares the ZZ’s ability to tolerate neglect and low light.
ZZ Golden
The ZZ Golden is a rare variety with subtle golden-yellow variegation on its leaves, giving it a warm, glowing appearance. It requires brighter light to maintain its coloration and is less hardy than non-variegated ZZs, but its unique hue makes it a favorite among collectors.
ZZ Moonlight
The ZZ Moonlight features pale green to silvery leaves, a softer contrast to the typical dark green ZZ varieties. Its lighter foliage brightens up spaces and requires moderate indirect light to thrive. It’s as low-maintenance as the classic ZZ, making it a versatile choice.
ZZ Shorty
The ZZ Shorty is a dwarf cultivar with shorter, more compact leaves than the standard ZZ, creating a tidy, rounded appearance. It’s perfect for small apartments or desks and maintains the same hardiness, thriving in low light and needing water only every few weeks.