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Plants / Raven ZZ Plant

Raven ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven'

Also known as: Black ZZ, Raven Zamioculcas

⚠ïļ Toxic to petsAraceaeHard to propagate

A complete guide to growing and propagating Raven ZZ Plant: its care needs, how to take cuttings and root them, how long propagation takes, and how to fix the most common problems.

Raven ZZ Plant care at a glance

☀ïļ Light
Medium, indirect light; new growth emerges lime-green and matures to near-black. Tolerates low light.
💧 Water
Water only when the mix is mostly dry; its rhizomes store water so it is very drought-tolerant and rots if overwatered.
ðŸŠī Soil
Well-draining potting mix with perlite.
ðŸ’Ļ Humidity
Average household humidity is fine.
ðŸū Toxicity
Toxic to cats and dogs (insoluble calcium oxalates).

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How to propagate Raven ZZ Plant

Leaf cuttings

Difficulty: HardTimeline: Rhizomes form in 2-4 months; slow to grow into a plant.
  1. Pull whole leaflets, each with a bit of the base, from a stem.
  2. Let them callus for a day.
  3. Insert the base of each leaflet into moist, well-draining mix.
  4. Keep warm and barely moist; a small rhizome forms at the base over months.

Division (rhizome)

Difficulty: EasyTimeline: Establishes in 4-8 weeks.
  1. Unpot and separate the fat underground rhizomes, each with a stem and roots.
  2. Pot each rhizome division into fresh well-draining mix.
  3. Water lightly and keep in medium, indirect light.
  4. Let it dry well between waterings.

Common Raven ZZ Plant problems & fixes

Yellow leaves

Usually overwatering. Let the soil dry more between waterings and confirm the pot drains well.

Brown, crispy leaf tips

Low humidity or salt buildup. Raise humidity and flush the soil with plain water occasionally.

Leggy growth / small new leaves

Too little light. Move to brighter indirect light and prune to encourage fuller growth.

Track your raven zz plant cuttings & propagation in SnipLog

Log when you took each cutting, set rooting reminders, and watch your propagation timeline — free on iPhone.

Get SnipLog →

Toxicity notes are a general guide based on ASPCA-style classifications — if a pet ingests any houseplant, contact your vet. Care needs vary with your home's conditions.