What Does a ZZ Plant Look Like? A Detailed Introduction to Its Appearance and Characteristics

The ZZ plant is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant native to the savanna climate zone of eastern Africa with relatively low rainfall, so what does the ZZ plant look like?

1. What does the ZZ plant look like?

The ZZ plant generally grows 50-80 cm tall, with a large tuberous stem underground, but no main stem above ground. Its leaves are large compound leaves, green in color with a thick leathery texture, and the base of the leaf stalk is swollen and woody. Each leaf rachis has 6 to 10 pairs of opposite or nearly opposite leaflets.

2. Growing Habits of the ZZ Plant

The Chinese scientific name of the ZZ plant is Zamioculcas zamiifolia, a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant in the Araceae family, Zamioculcas genus. It was introduced to China in 1997, and because it purifies indoor air, it is generally kept as an indoor foliage plant.

The ZZ plant prefers warm, slightly dry, semi-shaded environments with small annual average temperature fluctuations, and grows best at 20°C to 32°C. During the growing season, watering should follow the rule of “do not water until dry, and water thoroughly when you do”. It is relatively drought-tolerant but afraid of cold, and avoids strong direct sunlight. It dislikes heavy, sticky soil and water accumulation in the pot. If the pot soil has poor drainage and aeration, its tuberous stem is prone to rot.

3. ZZ Plant Propagation Methods

1. Division

Take a large ZZ plant out of its pot and break it apart at the weak points where the tuberous stems join. Apply sulfur powder or plant ash to the wounds, then plant them separately in pots.

2. Cuttings

You can use a single small leaf, a section of leaf rachis with 2 leaves attached, or a section of leaf rachis alone. Cuttings made from a leaf rachis with leaves root quickly and have a high sprouting rate, and more easily form larger tuberous stems.