Care tips

Symbolism, colours & shapes

The meaning of the name Zamioculcas is difficult to trace. Culcas is an old name for another genus, the Colocasia. The species zamiifolia has leaves that resemble zamia ferns. Since these leaves are characteristic of both plants, they eventually became a hybrid.

Zamioculcas is a stoic type that neither loses its leaves nor grows quickly - the embodiment of stability. Thanks to this Zen-like character, the plant can serve as a useful focus during meditation.

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Green, beautiful and virtually indestructible, Zamioculcas is first and foremost a fabulous work of nature. This green personality has robust, strikingly regular and leathery leaves that grow on stems that look a bit like feathers. Despite its sturdy stems, Zamioculcas is still classified as an herbaceous plant.

Its robustness is not due to its almost woody branches or the thickness of its leaves, but rather to special veins that store water and nutrients, making it one of the easiest houseplants ever to care for: whether light, darkness or water shortage - Zamioculcas endures it stoically and remains, without grumbling, green and beautiful.

And even if the plant takes its time growing, it is worth your while to invest in this relationship. Because every new sprout is so much the greater triumph!

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Origin

Zamioculcas zamiifolia is native to Tanzania and is found mainly on Zanzibar, but also grows throughout Central Africa and on the east coast. Its natural habitat is the rocky soil in lowlands or the foothills of the highlands. Zamioculcas is used to the alternation between long, dry periods and heavy rain. When it rains, the plant quickly stores water in its reservoirs and is able to draw from it for weeks, if not months. Although Zamioculcas has been known since 1892, it has only been in vogue as a houseplant for about 15 years. This is thanks to Dutch growers who took up the challenge of cultivating the plant in 1996.