ZZ Plant Care (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): Low Light, Watering, Propagation, Toxicity

The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), also sold as Zanzibar gem, has glossy dark green leaves that look like they’ve been polished. It stores water in thick underground rhizomes, which lets it shrug off drought and dim corners. It is one of the toughest houseplants you can buy, which is why it shows up in so many offices.

How to identify a ZZ plant

The ZZ plant is an aroid, in the same family (Araceae) as monstera and pothos. Kew’s Plants of the World Online gives its native range as Kenya to KwaZulu-Natal in eastern and southeastern Africa, in the seasonally dry tropics. The Missouri Botanical Garden describes its habitat as dry grassland and forest.

There is no stem above ground. The pinnate leaves rise straight from the rhizome. According to the RHS, each leaf is 16–24 inches long with six to eight pairs of shiny leaflets. What looks like a stem is really the stalk (petiole) of a single leaf. The name zamiifolia means “with leaves like Zamia,” an unrelated cycad. NC State Extension notes it grows slowly to 2–4 feet tall and wide. Mature plants can produce a green-white spathe and spadix, though University of Florida notes it won’t bloom in low light.

Light

The RHS says the ZZ plant grows in anything from indirect light to full shade. University of Florida research shows it is more tolerant of low light than most foliage plants and can grow under very low interior light for more than a year.

Tolerating low light isn’t the same as thriving. It grows best in bright indirect light. NC State Extension warns that direct sun scalds and browns the leaves. In a dark corner it will survive but put out few new leaves. For more options, see our guide to low-light houseplants.

Watering

ZZ plants are extremely drought tolerant. University of Florida advises letting the soil dry between waterings and never letting the plant sit in water. The RHS says to let the compost dry out completely.

NC State Extension gives a rough rhythm: about twice a month in summer and once a month in winter, but only when the soil is completely dry. Let the soil, not the calendar, decide. When in doubt, wait. According to University of Florida, root rot from soggy, poorly drained soil is essentially the only serious problem this plant has.

Soil and repotting

University of Florida says any well-drained peat- or bark-based potting mix will do. A drainage hole matters more than the exact recipe.

The RHS recommends repotting only when needed, usually every two to three years or once the plant is root-bound. ZZ plants like being a little snug, so don’t jump to a much bigger pot.

Humidity and temperature

It doesn’t need extra humidity. Normal indoor air is fine. The RHS recommends 60–75°F (15–24°C), and University of Florida notes that growth slows and injury can occur below 50°F (10°C). It has no frost tolerance. You can summer it outdoors in shade, but NC State Extension says to bring it in once temperatures drop below 60°F.

Fertilizer

It needs very little. University of Florida recommends a low dose of liquid fertilizer just twice a year, and the RHS suggests feeding from April to September at half the rate on the label. The RHS adds that it’s better to underfeed than overfeed.

How to propagate a ZZ plant

Division (fast):

1. In spring, slide the plant out of its pot and gently shake off the soil.
2. Separate the rhizomes so each piece has at least one leaf and its own roots.
3. Pot each piece in free-draining mix and water sparingly at first.

Leaflet cuttings (slow, but one plant gives you many):

1. Pull individual healthy leaflets from a mature leaf. The RHS recommends propagating from single leaflets.
2. Insert them base first into moist, free-draining mix.
3. Keep them warm and bright, out of direct sun. University of Florida lists 75–85°F for commercial propagation.
4. Keep the mix lightly moist, not wet.
5. A small rhizome forms at the base of the leaflet first, then roots, and only then a stalk with a new leaf. Be patient: this takes months.

Colored cultivars

NC State Extension lists ‘Raven’ (‘Dowon’), with lime-green new growth that ages to a purple-black; ‘Chameleon’, whose leaves emerge golden-yellow and turn dark green; and ‘Lucky’, with wider, rounded leaflets. These are color changes as leaves mature, not true variegation.

Common problems

Symptom	Cause	Fix
Yellowing leaves, soil stays wet	overwatering, root rot	let it dry out, check the rhizomes, repot in free-draining mix
Leaflets dropping	long drought	water, but don’t overdo it
Brown scorched patches	direct sun	move to indirect light
Brown bumps on the stalks	scale insects	wipe off, keep checking
No new growth	low light, cold or winter rest	be patient, move somewhere brighter and warmer

Toxicity

The ASPCA lists the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas spp.) among plants containing insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which are toxic to pets. Chewing releases tiny needle-like crystals that irritate the mouth, leading to drooling, retching, vomiting, diarrhea and pawing at the mouth. The ASPCA says severity is usually low and no long-term effects are expected, but call your vet or a pet poison hotline if you’re worried. NC State Extension rates it medium severity, and the RHS warns the plant is a skin and eye irritant, so wear gloves when handling it. See houseplants toxic to cats and dogs.