Houseplant
ZZ Plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia · Araceae
Also called: Zanzibar Gem, Aroid Palm, Emerald Palm, Eternity Plant, ZZ
ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) is a very low-water houseplant well suited to Tucson and the low desert. It's a slow-growing houseplant.
ZZ Plant at a glance
- Water use
- Very Low (established)
- Sun
- Bright to moderate indirect light indoors; tolerates low light well. Avoid direct desert sun, which can scorch the glossy leaflets. Good for interior rooms and offices.
- Mature size
- Typically 2-3 ft tall and wide indoors.
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Bloom
- Pale yellow to brownish spadix with a green spathe, Rarely blooms indoors; a small spadix-and-spathe (aroid) flower may appear near the base in summer, usually inconspicuous.
- Cold hardiness
- Frost-tender; keep above ~50-55F. Not frost-hardy, so grown indoors in Tucson. Min comfortable indoor temp ~55F.
- Soil
- Well-draining potting mix amended with perlite or a cactus mix; sharp drainage is essential to protect the rhizomes.
- Native range
- Eastern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania/Zanzibar to South Africa)
- Best used as
- Indoor decor, Low-light tolerant houseplant, Office/desktop plant, Air-purifying houseplant, Beginner-friendly houseplant
- Wildlife
- None indoors.
- Toxicity
- Toxic to cats, dogs, and humans; all parts contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause oral irritation, drooling, and GI upset if chewed. Sap can irritate skin and eyes; wash hands after handling. Keep from pets and children.
How to grow ZZ Plant in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
Allow soil to dry out fully between waterings, roughly every 2-4 weeks; it stores water in potato-like rhizomes and tolerates drought. In Tucson's dry indoor air it may need slightly more frequent watering in peak summer, but err dry, as overwatering causes rhizome and root rot.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Light feeder; apply balanced, half-strength houseplant fertilizer once or twice in spring/summer. None in winter.
Pruning & care
Minimal; remove yellowed or damaged stems at the base. Wipe leaves to remove dust and keep them glossy.
Notes
Grown only as an indoor plant in Tucson due to frost sensitivity. One of the most drought- and neglect-tolerant houseplants, well suited to Tucson's arid interiors and infrequent-watering owners. Glossy waxy leaves resist the low desert's dry air. A naturally dark-leaved cultivar 'Raven' is also common.
Sources: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (Pima County Master Gardeners) houseplant guidance; Missouri Botanical Garden Plant Finder; ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List