The genus Zamioculcas has but one species,Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Say that 10 times quickly! To make things easy, everyone else just calls it ZZ plant. And there couldn’t be an easier plant to grow, either. This almost indestructible plant, with its shiny, leathery, succulent fronds, will grow in the darkest corner of your living room or on a bright sunny porch. The only way to kill it is to overwater it. ZZ plants grow from a potato-like tuber similar to its cousins, caladiums and elephant ears (Caladiumspp. and Colocasiaspp.). The bloom is a typically unexciting aroid flower, hidden at the base of the leaves. Although not a fast grower, a ZZ can get large over time, up to 4 feet. There is one cultivar, the much smaller ‘Zamicro’.

 Common Name:  ZZ plant, eternity plant

 Botanical Name:  Zamioculcas zamiifolia  

Varieties/Cultivars to Look For:   ‘Zamicro’

  Color:   Rich deep green

  Blooming Period:   Rarely

  Type:   Tropical houseplant

  Size:   16-48 inches

  Exposure:   Just about anywhere except full sun

  How to Plant:   Potted houseplant

  Soil:   Well-drained soil

  Watering:   Water when soil is dry, never on a schedule.  

When to Prune:   Divide when needed; share with friends.  

When to Fertilize:   Sparingly in spring and summer only

  In Your Landscape:   Use in containers as a tropical.

From Ohio Gardener Volume IV Issue I. Left photo by Rusty Clark. Right photo by Chris Baker.