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Zamioculcas zamiifolia

fern arum

RHS Plant Shop from £19.99 Sold by 6 nurseries

  • Other common names fern arum
    Zanzibar gem

  • Family Araceae

  • Genus Zamioculcas are evergreen perennials, becoming deciduous if they dry out. They have large, water-storing rhizomes and shiny leaves divided into pairs of leaflets

  • Details Z. zamiifolia is an evergreen, rhizomatous perennial. The smooth, shiny leaves, 40-60cm long, arise directly from the ground, and have six to eight pairs of leaflets. One or two green and white, arum-like flowers may appear among the leaf bases in summer, followed by white berries

  • Plant range E Tropical Africa

Characteristics

  • Foliage Evergreen

  • Habit Bushy

  • Hardiness

    Hardiness ratings

    All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

    • H1a - Under glass all year (>15C)
    • H1b - Can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
    • H1c - Can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
    • H2 - Tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
    • H3 - Hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
    • H4 - Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
    • H5 - Hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
    • H6 - Hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
    • H7 - Hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

    H1B

Colour

Sunlight

  • Full Shade

  • Partial Shade

  • Aspect South-facing or North-facing or East-facing or West-facing

  • Exposure Sheltered

Soil

  • Loam

    Loam

  • Sand

    Sand

  • MoistureWell-drained

  • SoilLoam, Sand

  • pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral

Size

  • Ultimate height 0.5-1 metres

  • Ultimate spread 0.5-1 metres

  • Time to ultimate height 2-5 years

How to grow

Cultivation Grow as an indoor plant in well-drained compost with indirect light to full shade. Tolerant of neglect

Propagation Propagate by leaf cuttings, using single leaflets

Suggested planting locations and garden types Patio & Container Plants Sub-tropical

How to care

Pruning No pruning needed. Remove faded leaves and flowers at soil level

Pests Generally pest free

Diseases Generally disease free

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RHS Plants Shop

Zamioculcas zamiifolia

fern arum

Buy from £19.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

Buy from £19.99 at the RHS Plants Shop

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