Do ZZ Plants Flower? (And How Often, If So?) - The Practical Planter (2024)

A ZZ plant, also known as the Zanzibar Gem, is short for Zamioculcas zamiifolia. It’s alright if you can’t pronounce it. People call it a ZZ plant for a reason, anyway.

These plants have become popular as house plants over the past 20 years. People love their luscious green leaves and their low water intake, but can these plants bloom? Do ZZ plants flower?

Yes, but it doesn’t always happen. Between mid-summer and early autumn, ZZ plants would bloom into small chubby flowers near the bases of the leaves. The flowers range from light cream to bright yellow, and they’re shaped like little peace lilies.

However, not every ZZ plant blooms in the flowering season. The plant has to be at least two years old to start blooming.

How Often Do ZZ Plants Flower?

If you’ve bought a ZZ plant for its flowers, we’re sorry to disappoint you.

Unlike regular plants, a ZZ plant doesn’t regularly flower, even if it’s over two years old and within its blooming season. ZZ plants need certain indoor conditions for you to see their flowers.

These indoor conditions include:

• The plant must have enough nutrients in its soil
• The room’s lighting, temperature, and the soil’s moisture must be optimal
• The plant must be placed in a planting pot that’s the right size
• The plant is healthy and doesn’t have any pests or diseases
• The plant should be in its blooming season, not hibernating

But even if you offer the perfect conditions for your plant, it still may not flower.

Don’t take it personally though. ZZ plants rarely bloom in their natural habitat either. So it makes sense that the chances of seeing their flower indoors are much slimmer than outdoors.

However, you could always count on having beautiful dark green leaves with the least amount of maintenance and care. Their waxy coating gives the leaves a gorgeous natural sheen without additional treatments. That’s why ZZ plants are perfect as house or desk plants.

What Does a ZZ Plant Flower Mean?

ZZ plants have been named many nicknames over the years, including the Zanzibar gem, the eternity plant, and the fortune tree.

• Zanzibar gem is based on its emerald green leaves that have a beautiful sheen to them.
• The eternity plant means that the ZZ plant signifies growth, health, and prosperity.
• The fortune tree symbolizes the ZZ plant’s ability to bring good luck and fortune to its owner.

Each of these names is derived from the Chinese Feng Shui, which states that the ZZ plant spreads positive energy to its surroundings. Its glossy green leaves signify health, happiness, and well-being.

Additionally, ZZ plants are known to purify the surrounding air from any volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, toluene, formaldehyde, and carbon dioxide.

For that reason, people prefer to place ZZ plants in their bedrooms, dining rooms, living rooms, and offices. They want to benefit from its air-purifying abilities and spiritual magic.

What To Do With ZZ Plant Flowers?

ZZ is considered a fairly undemanding house plant that requires nothing but the basic needs of any other plant. It doesn’t need any special additives or additional time commitments. You’ll only need to follow these simple steps to maintain your plant and help it thrive easily.

1 – Provide Indirect Light

One of the main perks of growing ZZ plants indoors is that they don’t need much light to live. They could live off fluorescent lights, which is why they’re perfect for offices.

However, to accelerate its growth, leave your plant in a place with indirect sunlight—emphasis on indirect.

If ZZ plants are subjected to direct sunlight, it might burn their leaves.

2 – Use Loose Potting Mix

A loose potting mix will allow your plant to breathe and prevent over-watering. Your potting mix must be loose enough for aeration and proper water drainage. Of course, remember to put your plant in a perforated pot to allow the excess water to escape too.

3 – Allow Its Soil to Dry Out

ZZ plants are known to be drought-tolerant, so you’ll only need to water them once every two weeks.

You won’t be killing it if you skip the watering once or twice. If anything, over-watering this plant causes more harm than good.

It’s better to give the soil a chance to dry out between every watering session.

4 – Optimize Temperature and Humidity Levels

ZZ plants thrive between 60℉ to 70℉ and average humidity levels. If the air is dry, try placing your plant near a humidifier.

5 – Check for Infestations

Keep an eye out for any pests or diseases. The sooner you notice any infestations, the easier it is to treat your plant.

6 – Get a New Pot Every Spring

Just like any living organism, your plant will outgrow its old pot, and you’ll need to replace it with a new pot every spring.

Final Thoughts

If you were wondering whether your ZZ can flower, then yes, it can. However, it’s generally considered a rare phenomenon for ZZ plants. You need some luck to see your plant bloom indoors. After all, its flowers aren’t called “a plant grower’s pride” for nothing.