The Raven's Have Landed!!!

Series: Plant Facts

When we say Ravens... we're not talking about birds; we're talking about houseplants!

More specifically, the newest variety of the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia. You may know it more by its common names: ZZ Plant, Zanzibar Gem, Zuzu Plant, Emerald Palm, and Eternity Plant.

Ever watched a plant change color? This one does; its leaves start from a gorgeous, stark lime green to a heavily contrasting and stunning dark purple-hued black color.

No, it's not fake. No, you didn't kill it because it's turning black. These are all fascinating qualities of the Zamioculcas Zamiifolia's newest variety, Black Raven ZZ, aka "Dowon."

Aside from its glossy leaves and changing colors, you may wonder why this makes a great houseplant; why would you even want it in your home? Read on to find out!

WHY ZZ'S?

This delightful treasure is genuinely one of a kind from the Araceae family, with only one species known and a handful of varieties; the original ZZ Plant, ZZ' Raven,' the 'Zenzi' (which is a smaller, more compact variety). However, we're here to talk about the ZZ' Raven.'

This low-light bundle of fun is good for your health; it removes those chemicals that are pretty good at harming your respiratory functions. The ZZ plant effectively punches those pesky suckers right out of the air, such as; benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.

Hands down one of the hardiest and most tolerant houseplants. Some may argue that you hardly have to care for them. Read on to find out more about these Rad Ravens.

Zamioculcas Zamiifolia 'Dowon' Care

Temps. + Light:

While given their name and appearance, these gothic wonders don't want to be stuck in the dark despite their low-light tolerances; they desire medium to bright (indirect) light.

This makes them a great beginner plant you can place anywhere in your home. Since they are from a dry, grassland-like environment, this resilient number can thrive in all humidity levels and loves warm temperatures.

Watering:

The drier the soil, the happier they'll be; they are native to Africa and naturally drought-tolerant. This particular plant is known to be quite hardy…(don't test it by letting it dry out entirely).

However, its potato-like rhizome stores water, allowing extended periods between watering. Watering it when the soil surface is dry is a good rule of thumb. This plant hates being overwatered and will not thrive in consistently wet soil.

Fun Facts + Take Away:

Still not convinced this is the plant for you? Here are some other fun facts that might make you jump off your couch and shake that winter slump.

It can be propagated in a few different ways: with just one leaf (although this can take up to a year), take a stem cutting and place it in a tall vase of water (you'll start to see thick roots within 6 months), and with division (separating the rhizomes).
Sprouts beautiful lime green leaves and then turns a contrasting purple/black color.
Native to the regions of Eastern Africa, Kenya, and South Africa.
It can reach up to 3ft tall, making it the perfect houseplant for small spaces and homes.

ZZ Plants are fantastic to work with, forgiving, and make the perfect houseplant for those who are forgetful or have a busy, packed schedule. You truly won't regret adding this Rad Raven to your houseplant collection!

Sources

Goldwyn, Brittnay. "How to Care for the Stunning Raven ZZ Plant & How to Propagate It." By Brittany Goldwyn | Live Creatively, 5 Jan. 2023, https://www.bybrittanygoldwyn.com/raven-zz-plant-care/.

Jimerson, Doug. "Costa Farms." Trending Tropicals® Collection: Meet Raven® ZZ | Costa Farms, 4 Nov. 2019, https://www.costafarms.com/blog/trending-tropicals-collection-meet-raven-zz#:~:text=Raven%C2%AE%20is%20a%20variety,ideal%20plant%20for%20forgetful%20caretakers.

Knight, Tom. “ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia): Care, Profile and Grow Guide.” OurHouseplants, 2018, https://www.ourhouseplants.com/plants/zzplant.

McEvers, Juli. "The Ultimate Guide to ZZ Plants." Kiwi Nurseries Ltd, 4 Aug. 2022, https://kiwinurseries.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-zz-plants/#:~:text=There%20are%20three%20varieties%20most,smaller%2C%20more%20compact%2C%20Zenzi.

Patrick, Lee. "ZZ Plant: A Narrative Guide." Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 23 Feb. 2016, https://www.bbg.org/gardening/article/zz_plant_a_narrative_guide#:~:text=Zamioculcas%20zamiifolia%20is%20native%20to,lily%20but%20harder%20to%20see.

Plants, Dahing. "Medium Black Raven ZZ Plant." Dahing Plants, 2023, https://www.dahingplants.com/products/copy-of-medium-dieffenbachia-camille#:~:text=The%20low%20maintenance%20Black%20Raven,Africa%2C%20Kenya%20and%20South%20Africa.