The ZZ raven is a brand-new plant that was only released to garden centers in the United States in 2019. The Zamioculcas zamiifolia Raven gets its name from the original ZZ plant, Zamioculcas zamiifolia, which means “the Answer tree” or “eternity plant,” with the addition of “raven” to differentiate its dark foliage.
Unfortunately, I don’t know much about how the raven ZZ gets black, which is likely due to its newness and the fact that it is currently protected by a plant patent. The plant patent places restrictions on who can grow and sell the plant, as well as keeping some of the plant’s secrets hidden. So don’t be alarmed if the leaves turn a vivid green color. They will change, and it will be entertaining to watch.
The raven ZZ is native to Eastern Africa, including portions of Kenya and South Africa, because it is descended from the original ZZ plant. It can be found growing wild in arid grasslands, woodlands, and riverbanks. I’m reminded of haworthia succulents by their hardiness.
Can you sell Raven ZZ?
This plant is just a hybrid of Zamioculcas zamiifolia and Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It can be propagated and multiplied in the same way that more popular types can.
Crown division, leaf cuttings (as seen on the left), and stem cuttings are the most effective techniques.
This plant variety, however, is protected by a patent. This means that it is illegal to multiply and sell it in the United States. This can only be done by nurseries that have made agreements with the original breeder.
To put it another way, the only thing you can do is plan a personal backup in case your main plant dies!
What is a black raven ZZ plant?
Zamioculcas ‘Raven,’ an intriguing new black-foliage variant of the hardy ZZ plant, was named Best New Plant at the 2018 Tropical Plant Industry Exhibition (TPIE) in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for its distinctive texture and stunning color.
Raven ZZ is a plant grown by Costa Farms in Miami, Florida, that will be available in retail locations in late 2018 or early 2019. “A plant like this is great for generating enthusiasm among consumers as they decorate their homes and offices with this new and exotic tropical beauty,” says Costa Farms horticulture Justin Hancock. “Raven is an excellent choice for newcomers or anyone searching for a low-maintenance, elegant home plant.”
Raven ZZ is an easy-to-grow houseplant that thrives in almost any indoor environment. Raven ZZ has purple-black leaves that appear as a lush green tint before maturing. It can withstand inconsistency in watering, low, medium, or bright light, and low humidity.
Raven ZZ is a slow-growing plant that can attain a height and width of roughly 30 inches (76 cm) over time. It thrives in both natural and artificial light, and unlike many purple-leaved plants, it doesn’t require a lot of light to create its vibrant hue.
“Plants with colorful leaf are extremely popular right now, and we anticipate a lot of interest in ‘Raven’ due to its attractive appearance and low maintenance requirements,” Hancock says.
Costa Farms has the exclusive rights to grow Raven ZZ in North America and will distribute it to merchants in the United States and Canada.
Costa Farms is the world’s largest grower of ornamental plants. The enterprise employs 5,000 workers and spans 4,500 acres. Costa Farms operates retail merchandising and young-plant production divisions as part of its infrastructure, with operations in Florida, North and South Carolina, and the Dominican Republic and the Far East.
Why is raven ZZ popular?
The Raven ZZ plant is one of the most popular and fashionable houseplants. It’s easy to see why. Raven’s leaves turn an electrifying lime-green color when new growth emerges. Each leaflet develops a beautiful purple-black hue as it matures. The effect is hypnotic.
Raven ZZ plant is not only a lovely houseplant, but it’s also one of the easiest to cultivate indoors, as it tolerates a broad range of lighting and moisture conditions. It may flourish in almost any space of the house or business.
This slow-growing indoor plant looks great on desks and tabletops while it’s young. With proper care, it can grow to be 4 feet tall or more over time, becoming more more spectacular as it gets older.
Look for Costa Farms’ Raven ZZ plant in your favorite retailer’s Trending Tropicals selection. A list of our in-store and online retailer partners may be found here.
Raven was discovered in Asia in 2015, and its discoverer trademarked it, giving us exclusive rights to propagate it in North America.
How much sun does a raven ZZ need?
Maintain a bright, indirect light source for your plant. To avoid root rot, allow the soil to dry before watering again. To foster fresh growth, repot every two to three years.
Why is my Raven ZZ green?
Yes, the new growth will shoot forth from the dirt in a vibrant green color that contrasts well with the older black Raven stalks. This is very natural, and the sprouts will darken with time.
The new growth matches the regular ZZ plant’s green, but it appears to be a brighter green. Of course, I was afraid that mine was returning to a conventional ZZ (which would still be lovely), but I was determined to retain the Raven’s dark green/dark purple tones.
Does a raven ZZ plant flower?
Flowering time: Although ZZ plants can produce flowers, it is quite unusual. They also don’t produce exceptionally lovely flowers. This plant is more well-known for its glossy, black foliage. The leaves of this plant are either a rich shade of green or, in the case of a Raven ZZ, a stunning shade of black.
This plant is best suited to a windowless workplace or a washroom with only a limited amount of fluorescent light.
ZZ (light) Plants will thrive in extremely low light environments. Or even spaces with no natural light, as fluorescent lighting can be used as a substitute for natural daylight. The plant’s glossy leaves reflect light back into a room, brightening the atmosphere around it.
This low-light-loving houseplant is ideal for those dark corners of your home where most other houseplants would perish.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia has been around for hundreds of years and is native to Africa’s arid regions. The propagation potential of the ZZ plant was discovered in the 1990s by a Dutch nursery. The ZZ plant was first commercially marketed in 1996 from Holland to the rest of the world. It has since become a firm favorite in both offices and homes.
Plants have a dense canopy of large, dark green leaves. It has a number of characteristics that make it a popular house and office plant.
This leafy plant can withstand neglect, is drought resistant, and thrives in low-light environments, including those with artificial illumination. ZZ Plants grow slowly, making them manageable for those with hectic schedules. It will grow to a height of 1 meter. The plant’s spread is determined by the size of the container it is housed in.
Swollen rhizomes under the earth will allow this plant to thrive and spread. ZZ Plants prefer to be kept root bound, but if you give it enough room in the pot, it will produce more rhizomes and offshoots, allowing it to expand further.
You’ll notice when your plant becomes pot constrained. It will distort the contour of a plastic nursery pot and may even push the plant out the top. Now is the time to propagate your ZZ Plant. It’s simple to propagate a ZZ. Remove the plant from its pot and brush off the soil. This will expose the rhizomes (which resemble potatoes), which you can then divide and replant. If you pot more than one rhizome together, your ZZ Plant will develop faster and stronger.
The ZZ Plant is an excellent air cleaner. Researchers discovered that this plant was particularly effective in removing pollutants like xylene, toluene, and benzene from the air in a NASA study conducted in the 1980s.
What’s different about this plant?
One of the easiest houseplants to care for is Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Where other plants may struggle, it will thrive. It’s perfect for rooms with little or no natural light. It may also grow in artificial light, making it an excellent office plant.
Its rhizomes retain water, making it drought tolerant, and it’s the perfect splash of green for those of you who live hectic lives or travel frequently. It can be left unattended for an extended amount of time. It would also be an ideal plant for vacation rentals and Airbnb residences, which typically have no or few houseplants.
Do Raven ZZ plants like to be root bound?
It’s difficult to tell when it’s time to repot your favorite houseplant, especially when some require more space than others. You might be wondering what ZZ Plants (Zamiifolia Zamioculcas) are “Do ZZs enjoy being tethered to their roots?” in addition “When is the best moment to transplant them?” says the narrator.
ZZ Plants despise being confined to their roots. Large underground rhizomes take up a lot of room inside a container. Root rot and fungus are more likely when too many rhizomes are forced to reside in a tiny pot. Every two years, ZZs should be replanted into a pot that is one size larger than the one in which they previously resided.
While pruning up roots may help for other houseplants, ZZs have rhizomes beneath the surface that resemble bulbs or tubers. That indicates your ZZ needs place to extend in order to expand. Repotting your plant every two years into a container one size larger than its former home is a decent rule of thumb, but there are a few other factors to keep in mind. Continue reading!