Black Raven ZZ Emerald Palm Plant

Description

The ZZ plant could be considered the new kid on the block, only in the past two and half decades has it made its way to mass cultivation and spread worldwide into homes and offices. It quickly rose to the top of the must-have list due to the resilient and drought-tolerant nature that has allowed it to survive even in the most inexperienced hands.

Formally known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia this plant is the only one of its species that belongs to the family Araceae. Also known as the ZZ plant, Zanzibar gem, aroid palm, Zuzu plant or emerald palm, it is classed as a tropical perennial. Originating from Africa’s drought-prone environments, this tough-as-old boots plant can be found across vast areas of Africa, stretching across regions from southern Kenya to the northeast of South Africa.

While the ZZ plant has been on the radar of modern horticulture for the last few centuries, it wasn’t until 1996, when some intrepid Dutch nurseries situated in South Africa started to notice the plant’s huge potential to hold its own as a houseplant for the western world. Soon after this revelation mass propagation began and the plant began its journey into the hearts of the indoor gardener.

What made this so appealing to the Dutch nurserymen and what has kept it in popular demand for all these years is its sheer robust nature. This plant won’t go down without a fight! It requires minimum care and to be honest thrives on neglect more than anything. The ZZ plant is rhizomatous meaning it can store moisture within bulbous rhizomes that dwell below the surface of the soil, this is a natural adaption they have formed to be able to survive long periods of drought. Also, their fleshy succulent-like leaves, with a single leaf surviving for six months, can store a huge amount of excess moisture, up to 95% of the leaf mass, giving them an extra reserve for when times get tough. This is one of the key reasons this plant can seem to go on and on without water, with no need to be watered more than once a month. The other gleaming feature of this plant is that it’s very tolerable to low light conditions, in some opinions the most tolerable. While low light is not the optimal condition it will still perform relatively well and make for a handsome plant.