The illustrated growing guide
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Family Araceae
Est. zones 10-12
Alongside snake plant, the survivor for dark offices and forgetful waterers. Shiny leaves are natural — no leaf polish needed.
Low to bright indirect — famously tolerant
Low water
Slow growth
None winter chill
From the print shop
The closest print we make
Our Houseplants Vol. 1 collection carries Zamioculcas zamiifolia — the same species as zz plant — but the print shows “Zz Plant,” a different cultivar of it, not zz plant itself.
16 designsfrom $21.99white or black groundmatte poster, unframed
I
Overview
Will zz plant suit your garden, and what goes wrong.
Will it thrive where you are?
Enter your ZIP — we look up your USDA hardiness zone (2023 map) and check it against what zz plant actually needs.
Hardy inZones 10-12ZZ Plant at a glance
Common zz plant problems
- Almost none
- Rhizome rot (overwatering)
II
Growing
Light, water, soil, propagation and the season’s jobs.
How to grow zz plant: light, water & soil
How to plant & propagate zz plant
III
The year
What zz plant asks for, month by month.
The zz plant year, month by month
No fixed season calendar for zz plant — its care follows conditions, not the calendar.
IV
Ecology & uses
What it does for the garden, and what it is grown for.
ZZ Plant in the garden system
What zz plant is grown for
! Some parts toxic — see notesToxic to cats/dogs and kids
Edibility, identification, and traditional-use notes here are general reference — not medical or veterinary advice, and not a claim that any plant treats or prevents anything. Medicinal ratings record how strongly a plant features in herbal tradition, nothing more. Never eat or dose a plant you have not positively identified. More on how to use this library.
V
Cultivars
Named varieties of zz plant, ruled as a catalogue.
Best zz plant varieties & cultivars
'Raven' (black foliage); standard
VI
Sources & plant ID
Where the care distinctions come from, and how the plant is filed.
Research basis
Sources behind this profile
No extension citations are attached to zz plantyet. The care figures below come from the library's own catalogue rather than a traced primary source.
Plant ID
VII
Where to buy
Third-party nurseries — not Story Thyme Farms.
Third-party nurseries, not Story Thyme Farms. Prices are theirs.
Story Thyme Farms may earn a small commission from these links, at no cost to you — it never changes what we recommend. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
VIII
Questions
ZZ Plant questions, answered straight.
Is zz plant safe for kids and pets?
With care. Toxic to cats/dogs and kids Site it accordingly if children or pets roam the garden. This is general reference, not medical or veterinary advice — call a vet or poison control if something has actually been eaten.
How do you propagate zz plant?
Stem/leaf cuttings, division, or pups.
IX
Elsewhere
Where zz plant sits in the library.
Monstera
Golden Pothos
Snake Plant
Heartleaf Philodendron