Dbwolfe · CC BY-SA 4.0
About
A popular houseplant, *Zamioculcas zamiifolia* is notable for its attractive, glossy, and highly durable foliage, making it easy for beginners to care for. It features large, erect, pinnately compound leaves and a large bulbous, fleshy rhizome that aids in its drought resistance.
Field notes
Morphology
The plant is a terrestrial, succulent, evergreen, rhizomatous perennial herb with erect, pinnately compound leaves that are 40–60 cm long and bear 6–8 leaflet pairs. It possesses a thick petiole and a large, bulbous, fleshy, potato-like rhizome. The flowers are produced in a small spadix, which is bright yellow to brown or bronze and measures 5–7 cm, wrapped in a yellow-green spathe.
Distribution & habitat
Native to Kenya, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal), Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Cultivation notes
It is widely cultivated as a houseplant and can be propagated by leaf cuttings, where the lower ends of detached leaves are inserted into a moist, gritty growing medium. The plant prefers bright, indirect light but tolerates low light. The substrate must be well-drained, and while it prefers regular watering, the soil should be allowed to dry out between waterings.
History & etymology
It was first described as *Caladium zamiifolium* G.Lodd. by Conrad Loddiges in 1829, and later placed into the genus *Zamioculcas* by Adolf Engler in 1905. The species name zamiifolia means "leaves like Zamia".
Conservation
In South Africa, its national conservation status is listed as least concern (LC).
Habitat
- Altitude
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- Altitude Class
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Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate
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