Zamioculcas zamiifolia'Zenzi'
A cultivar of Zamioculcas zamiifolia
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
- Not recorded
- Altitude class
- —
Cultivation
- Difficulty
- intermediate