If there were a trophy for the most forgiving houseplant, the ZZ would be a serious contender. With glossy, deep green leaves and an almost indestructible constitution, Zamioculcas zamiifolia will happily shrug off low light, dry air and weeks of forgotten watering. It's the plant beginner's best friend, and a stylish one at that. Here's how to keep it looking its best.

Perfect for:

Neglectful plant parents and low light corners.

The ZZ is genuinely the plant for people who travel, forget, or simply don't want the pressure of a needy houseplant. It survives months of neglect and copes cheerfully with low light, making it perfect for offices, hallways and shadier rooms where other plants sulk.

Did you know?

The ZZ comes in more than one look. Alongside the famous bright green 'Zenzi', there's the moody 'Raven', whose new lime green growth deepens to an almost black green. One important note for pet households, though: the ZZ is toxic to pets, so keep it out of reach of curious cats and dogs.

Natural Habitat

The ZZ is native to the rocky, arid areas of eastern Africa. That tough, dry origin explains everything about its care: it's built to store water and endure drought, which is why underwatering suits it far better than overwatering ever will.

Light

The ZZ will thrive in bright, indirect light, but it will also tolerate low light with ease, which is a large part of its appeal. It's endlessly adaptable, coping with the kind of spots that would leave fussier plants stretched and sad. It does well in average indoor humidity and prefers temperatures between 16 and 24°C, suffering below 5°C.

Water

Here's the golden rule: let the soil dry out completely between waterings. Because the ZZ is used to arid environments, it will always do better with a little underwatering than with too much. Overwatering is the one thing it won't forgive, so when in doubt, wait. It needs very little feeding too, just a regular houseplant fertiliser once or twice a year in the summer months, such as our [Fortifying House Plant Tonic](https://www.theeveryspace.com/products/fortifying-house-plant-tonic) (£7).

Propagation

The ZZ can be propagated through cuttings. Cut off a section of a mature stem, around 6 inches long, and place it in a tall glass of water. Change the water every week, and once the roots are over an inch long, transplant into a pot with well-draining soil, such as our Houseplant Potting Mix

ZZ is a slow grower, so patience is part of the process, but it's wonderfully hands-off.

A little extra - reading the leaves

The ZZ keeps things simple. Mushy brown stalks and yellowing or dropping leaves almost always mean overwatering, so ease right off. Dry, crispy tips or wrinkled leaves point the other way, to underwatering or very dry air. It's slow-growing and only needs repotting once every couple of years, in spring or early summer, into a slightly larger pot.

Shop

• ZZ Plant - the classic, glossy original
• Raven Z - dramatic near-black foliage
• Low Light Plants -more plants that thrive in shade
• Potting Mix - free-draining mix suitable for ZZ Plants
• Plant Pots- terracotta, ceramic, and recycled plastic
• Plant Food & Nutrition - feeds for the growing season