ZZ Plant

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

Also known as Zamioculcas zamiifolia, Zanzibar Gem, Eternity Plant

Plantae›Araceae

📍 Eastern Africa

Glossy, near-indestructible dark-green foliage that tolerates low light. Grown emersed with its roots in the tank water, it works as a living biofilter — pulling up nitrate while the foliage stays in the air.

Terrestrial / emersed plant

Grown with its roots in the tank water and its leaves in the air — a living nitrate filter, not a submerged aquarium plant. Give it bright indirect light; no aquarium CO₂ or substrate needed.

Toxic if eaten

Leaves and sap contain calcium oxalate — toxic if eaten, irritating the mouth and gut; keep foliage away from plant-grazing fish, while the submerged roots are safe.

Community Photos

0 photos

Photos are added when members log a tank with this species and upload a photo in their tank journal. Add your own tank to contribute.

No photos yet — add a tank with ZZ Plant to be the first!

Tips from the community 💡

0 tips

Real experiences, care advice, and keeper notes. Finn learns from these too.

No community tips yet — be the first to share your knowledge!

Ask Finn

Quick Facts

light: Low to bright indirect
biofilter: true
placement: Emersed — roots in water, leaves in air
growth rate: slow

Water it likes

ph: 6.0–7.5
nitrate: Thrives on high nitrate — a strong natural exporter
hardness: Soft to hard (2–20 dGH)
temperature: 64–82°F (18–28°C)

Legality

No state or federal restrictions on record for this species.

Not legal advice, and possibly incomplete or out of date. Rules vary by state and locality and change over time — always confirm the current regulations with your state wildlife or agriculture agency before buying, keeping, or shipping this species.