Raven Is Just the Start: 10 ZZ Plant Varieties Ranked from Common to Collector’s-Grade Rare
All 10 ZZ plant varieties ranked by rarity — from jet-black Raven to collector-only Whipped Cream — with patent names, mature sizes, and where to find each.
When a Raven ZZ plant is young, every new leaf emerges lime green. Within weeks, those same leaflets deepen to jade, then olive, then finally settle into the near-black that makes the plant famous. Most people who own one never witness this transformation simply because they bought a mature specimen. It is one of dozens of details that separate the standard-care guides from a genuine understanding of ZZ plant cultivars.
The standard species — Zamioculcas zamiifolia — has been in cultivation since the 1990s, but named cultivars did not arrive until 2002, when a Dutch breeder registered ‘Zamicro’. Since then, plant breeders have introduced dwarf forms, compact mounding varieties, and some of the most striking variegated foliage in the houseplant world. As of 2024, over twenty named cultivars and regional trade names exist. This article covers the ten most significant, ranked by how easily you can actually find and buy them.
For a complete growing guide — light, watering, fertilising, and troubleshooting — see the ZZ plant growing guide. Here the focus is entirely on what makes each cultivar distinct, and how rare it really is.
ZZ Plant Varieties at a Glance
The table below covers all ten varieties in this guide. Rarity tier runs from 1 (widely stocked at garden centres) to 3 (collector sources only). Sizes reflect indoor container specimens at maturity, typically reached over 2–5 years according to the Royal Horticultural Society.
| Variety | Patent / Trade Name | Mature Height | Key Feature | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard ZZ | Z. zamiifolia (species) | 2–4 ft | Glossy deep green; original | Tier 1 |
| Raven | ‘Dowon’ PBR | Up to 3 ft | Lime → jet black leaves | Tier 1 |
| Zenzi | ‘Hansoti 13’ PBR | ~12 in | Compact, curled dark foliage | Tier 1 |
| Zamicro | USPP19314 | 16–24 in | Dwarf with small leaflets | Tier 2 |
| Lucky Classic | ‘LUCKY’ | 4–5 ft | Rounded leaf tips; tallest green | Tier 2 |
| Chameleon | ‘Chameleon’ (2017) | 2–3 ft | Golden new growth → green | Tier 2 |
| Supernova | Netherlands, 2012 | ~30 in | Darker than Raven; slower growth | Tier 3 |
| Variegata | Unstabilised sport | 2–3 ft | Cream/white patches on green | Tier 3 |
| Jungle Warrior | Regional trade name | 2–3 ft | Raven-type; Australian market | Tier 3 |
| Whipped Cream | Collector’s cultivar | 2–5 ft | Creamy-white foliage overall | Tier 3 |
Tier 1 — Common Varieties (Widely Available)
These three cultivars appear regularly at independent garden centres, large retailers, and online plant shops throughout the US. If you walk into a well-stocked houseplant section, at least one of them will be on the shelf.
1. Standard ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)
The original and still the benchmark. According to NC State Extension, the species reaches 2–4 feet tall and wide at maturity, with pinnately compound leaves up to 2–4 feet long carrying roughly 25 glossy, elliptical leaflets each. Those leaflets are the plant’s trademark: they look as if they have been polished with wax, and they stay that way for months on a single stem.
Growth is slow and irregular. You may see no new stems for three or four months, then watch two or three emerge simultaneously in late spring. This is normal — the plant operates on rhizome cycles, storing energy underground before committing to above-ground growth. The rhizomes also explain how it survives the low-light corners of American homes: according to the Iowa State University Extension, the plant can be watered as infrequently as every 7–14 days and still thrive, because those underground tubers buffer moisture between waterings.
Best for: Beginners, offices, low-light rooms, anyone who wants a guaranteed-survivor houseplant.
Where to buy: Hardware stores, grocery plant sections, most garden centres year-round.
2. Raven ZZ (‘Dowon’ PBR)
Raven is the variety that convinced an entirely new generation of people that ZZ plants could be dramatic. The patent name is ‘Dowon’, registered in South Korea in 2006, and distributed in the US under the trade name Raven™. The RHS has awarded it recognition, listing it at 0.5–1 metre height and 0.1–0.5 metres spread at maturity — slightly more compact than the standard species.
The headline feature is the colour transformation. New growth emerges lime green, identical in appearance to the standard species at that stage. Over several weeks, the chlorophyll-to-anthocyanin ratio shifts — the same pigment chemistry that turns autumn leaves red — and the leaflets deepen progressively through olive, dark green, and finally the purple-black that gives the cultivar its name. A single stem can display the full gradient simultaneously: bright lime tips at the top of the stem, jet-black fully-mature leaflets at the base.
According to NC State Extension, care requirements are identical to the standard species: allow soil to dry between waterings, feed with a diluted balanced fertiliser twice monthly in summer, and avoid temperatures below 60°F. One practical note: Raven’s dark colour absorbs more radiant heat from grow lights, so maintain slightly more distance from artificial light sources than you would for the standard species.
Best for: Collectors who want drama without maintenance complexity. Works as a single statement plant or alongside light-leafed tropicals for contrast.
Where to buy: Most independent garden centres, online houseplant retailers, and big-box garden departments during spring and autumn restocks.
3. Zenzi ZZ (‘Hansoti 13’ PBR)
Zenzi is the compact ZZ, registered under Plant Breeders’ Rights as ‘Hansoti 13’ — a cultivar originating in India and formally registered around 2009. Where the standard species spreads wide and tall, Zenzi builds upward in a dense, bonsai-like clump rarely exceeding 12 inches in height. The leaflets themselves are slightly smaller than the standard, and they curve inward along the midrib, giving each stem a distinctive crinkled texture you can feel as well as see.
The RHS describes the genus as producing large water-storing rhizomes and shiny leaves divided into paired leaflets — Zenzi retains all these characteristics in miniature. The compressed internodal spacing (the distance between leaf attachment points on the stem) is what makes it look so full. Stems emerge closer together, and with shorter gaps between leaflets, the overall plant looks denser at a fraction of the footprint.
Care is slightly more forgiving of humidity than the standard species because its compact canopy reduces moisture loss — useful if you want a ZZ plant for a bathroom shelf or windowsill where air movement is lower. Watering frequency remains the same: let the potting mix dry thoroughly between sessions.
Best for: Small spaces — windowsills, shelves, desks, bathrooms. Ideal as a first collector’s cultivar because it is becoming easier to find and is not significantly more expensive than the standard species.
Where to buy: Increasing availability at independent garden centres; reliably available from online houseplant retailers.
Tier 2 — Intermediate Varieties (Worth Seeking Out)
These three cultivars require a deliberate search — an independent garden centre, a specialist houseplant shop, or a reputable online nursery. They are not rare in the collector’s sense, but you will not find them at a hardware store.
4. Zamicro
Zamicro holds a place in ZZ plant history as the first named cultivar, registered in the Netherlands in 2002 under US Plant Patent 19314. Where Zenzi achieves compactness through tight growth habit, Zamicro is simply a smaller-leafleted form of the standard species. Individual leaflets measure roughly half an inch wide — noticeably narrower than the standard — and the whole plant stays within 16–24 inches in height. The overall appearance reads as a miniature replica of the original rather than a genuinely different shape.
Because Zamicro was the first commercial cultivar, it is also the most thoroughly documented in horticultural literature. The standard care advice from the NC State Extension — allow soil to dry, moderate shade, 60°F minimum — applies without adjustment. Where it diverges from Zenzi is in its open, arching growth habit: stems spread outward rather than compacting upward, making it better suited to a hanging planter or wide shelf than a tight display grouping.
Best for: Anyone who loves the look of the standard ZZ but has limited floor space. Also useful in hanging planters where its arching stems trail naturally.
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→ View My Garden CalendarWhere to buy: Specialist online nurseries; occasionally at independent garden centres.
5. Lucky Classic
Lucky Classic is one of several Lucky-series cultivars developed in the Netherlands, registered under the trade name ‘LUCKY’. Where most ZZ plants have leaflets with pointed tips, Lucky Classic has distinctly rounded, almost spatula-shaped leaflets — a detail that is immediately obvious once you know to look for it. Mature specimens reach 4–5 feet in height, making this the tallest of the routinely available cultivars. The foliage is medium-dark green with the same characteristic gloss as the standard species.
The rounded leaflets are not just aesthetic — they give the plant a slightly softer, more tropical appearance that works well in rooms where the standard ZZ’s sharper silhouette can look stark. Growth rate is comparable to the standard species: slow and rhizome-driven. Allow 2–5 years to reach full height indoors under typical houseplant conditions, as noted by the RHS for the genus generally.
Best for: Larger rooms where a tall, full-bodied houseplant is needed. The rounded leaf shape makes it a good pairing with philodendrons and other soft-textured tropicals.
Where to buy: Specialist houseplant retailers; some well-stocked independent garden centres carry the Lucky series seasonally.
6. Chameleon
If Raven’s colour shift goes dark, Chameleon’s goes light. New growth on this Thai cultivar (formally introduced around 2017) emerges in shades of yellow and pale gold — occasionally close to true yellow — before gradually deepening to the glossy dark green typical of the species at maturity. A plant with stems at different ages displays the full spectrum simultaneously: gold-tipped new shoots alongside deep green mature stems. The effect is especially striking in bright indirect light, which intensifies the golden pigmentation in young leaves.
The mechanism here is chlorophyll development: young leaves contain less chlorophyll and more carotenoid pigments (the same pigment class responsible for yellow autumn colours), and as the leaf matures and chlorophyll production increases, the green outcompetes the yellow. This is a stable genetic trait in Chameleon — it occurs consistently with every new stem — rather than the variable chimeral variegation seen in unstabilised forms.
Care is identical to the standard species. One note on light: to preserve the golden phase in new growth for as long as possible, position in bright indirect light. In dim conditions, new leaves still emerge golden but turn green faster as the plant accelerates chlorophyll production to compensate for low light.
Best for: Collectors who want colour contrast without the risk and expense of a true variegated plant. A good introduction to colour-shifting ZZ cultivars before moving to Tier 3.
Where to buy: Specialist houseplant retailers, primarily online. Availability has increased since 2020 as the cultivar moves into mainstream production.
Tier 3 — Collector’s-Grade Rare Varieties
These four cultivars require patience, specialist sourcing, and — for the true rarities — a willingness to pay a significant premium. Prices for Variegata and Whipped Cream specimens regularly reach $50–$200 or more depending on size and variegation quality. They are not difficult to keep alive once you have them, but finding them in the first place is the challenge.
7. Supernova
Supernova was developed in the Netherlands and introduced around 2012. It is, in effect, a darker and more compact sibling of Raven — the foliage matures to a deeper black-green with occasional reddish-black striping on stems, and the plant grows slightly smaller than Raven with thinner stems. Where Raven is widely distributed globally, Supernova remained primarily within European markets for the first decade after introduction, which explains its scarcity in the US.
The distinguishing test between Supernova and Raven is simple: at full maturity, hold a Supernova leaflet against a Raven leaflet in bright light. Raven’s mature leaves show a clear deep purple hue when backlit; Supernova’s reflect very little light and appear truly black-green without the purple undertone. This is a subtle difference, and young plants of both cultivars look nearly identical — colour differentiation only becomes reliable on fully mature stems.
Best for: Collectors who already own Raven and want to explore the boundaries of dark ZZ cultivar variation. Interesting side-by-side with Raven to compare maturation rates and final colour.
Where to buy: US specialist plant retailers and collector-to-collector sales via houseplant communities. Occasionally appears at plant swaps and specialty shows.
8. Variegata
Variegata is the ZZ plant that houseplant collectors discuss in the same conversations as the Monstera albo and the variegated Rubber Plant — not because it is equally dramatic, but because it shares the same fundamental rarity driver: unstable chimeral variegation.
A chimera, in botanical terms, is a plant carrying two genetically distinct cell populations — in this case, cells that produce chlorophyll and cells that cannot. The cream and white patches on Variegata leaves are sectors of chlorophyll-free tissue. Because these two cell lines are not genetically locked together, they can shift during propagation: cuttings taken from a heavily variegated section may produce offspring with more or less variegation than the parent, and in some cases the variegation reverts entirely to green. This unpredictability makes large-scale nursery production uneconomical. Every Variegata plant is effectively unique.
Visually, the variegation appears as irregular cream, pale yellow, or white patches and streaks against the standard dark green — sometimes in half-moon sectoral patterns, sometimes as fine speckling. Colour intensity depends directly on light: in bright indirect light, the pale sectors stay vivid; in low light, the cream portions can fade toward off-white and the overall plant looks washed out rather than dramatic. Aim for at least 2–3 hours of bright indirect light daily, more than you would give a standard ZZ.
Mature height is 2–3 feet. Growth is slower than the standard species because variegated leaves photosynthesize less efficiently — the white sectors contain no chlorophyll and contribute zero photosynthetic capacity. The plant compensates by growing conservatively.
Best for: Experienced houseplant collectors comfortable with higher-light placement and willing to monitor for variegation reversion. Not recommended as a first ZZ purchase.
Where to buy: Specialist online plant shops, ETSY collector sellers, houseplant Facebook groups, and occasional appearances at plant fairs. Verify photos show actual variegation on the specific plant — not a stock image — before purchasing.
9. Jungle Warrior
Jungle Warrior occupies an unusual position in ZZ plant taxonomy: it is almost certainly a regional trade name for a Raven-type dark cultivar rather than a botanically distinct variety. In the Australian and Southeast Asian markets where it primarily appears, the name is applied to specimens with Raven-like lime-to-black leaf transformation. The key practical difference is distribution — Jungle Warrior is rarely exported to North America, making it genuinely scarce in the US market despite not being botanically rarer than Raven.
If you encounter a specimen labelled Jungle Warrior in the US, examine the mature leaves closely. True Raven (‘Dowon’) should show a distinct purple-black with some light transmission; a Jungle Warrior-labelled plant may show slightly different hue profiles suggesting a distinct clone, or it may be a Raven specimen sold under a regional alias. Without genetic confirmation, the distinction is effectively impossible to make visually. The care requirements are identical regardless.
Best for: Collectors who want to document regional trade name variation in ZZ cultivars, or anyone who encounters one and wants to add a regionally distinct dark cultivar to a collection.
Where to buy: Rarely available in the US. Monitor specialty Australian houseplant retailers that ship internationally, or collector communities.
10. Whipped Cream
Whipped Cream is the rarest ZZ plant in regular circulation and one of the few that causes genuine excitement when it appears for sale. Where Variegata carries cream patches on green leaves, Whipped Cream reverses the ratio — the majority of the leaf surface is creamy white or very pale green, with darker green relegated to occasional sectors and streaks. The overall effect is a plant that looks dramatically different from any other ZZ variety: pale, almost luminous, and unmistakably unusual.
The rarity is structural. Like Variegata, Whipped Cream carries unstable chimeral variegation — but with an even higher proportion of chlorophyll-free tissue, which means even less capacity for photosynthesis. Growth is very slow, propagation success rates are low, and the plant requires precise light management: enough bright indirect light to sustain the small chlorophyll-bearing tissue it does have, but not so much direct sun that pale leaf surfaces scorch. The balance is narrow. Most home gardeners will keep it successfully in a well-lit room that receives at least 3–4 hours of bright indirect light.
Pricing reflects all of this: small specimens typically start at $80–$150, and larger well-variegated plants command significantly more. Reverted green stems (which occasionally appear and should be removed promptly) dilute the visual effect and, if left in place, will eventually outcompete the variegated tissue entirely.
Best for: Dedicated collectors who understand variegation management, have appropriate light conditions, and are purchasing the plant as a long-term specimen rather than a casual addition.
Where to buy: Collector-to-collector sales, specialist plant auctions, rare-plant fairs, and a small number of specialist online nurseries. Availability is occasional rather than reliable — when it appears, it sells quickly.
Why Are Some ZZ Plant Varieties So Rare?
Three distinct mechanisms drive ZZ plant rarity, and understanding them helps you assess whether a variety is truly rare or simply under-distributed.
Plant patent protection. Raven, Zenzi, and Zamicro are all registered under patent or Plant Breeders’ Rights (PBR) protection. The patent holder controls who can propagate and sell the plant commercially. This initially restricts availability to licensed growers, but as licences expand and patents age, these varieties move from scarce to widely available. Raven is a good example: when it launched in the US around 2019, it commanded $30–$50 for a four-inch pot. By 2022, mass retail stocking had driven prices to $10–$15 for the same size. Patent protection shapes the early availability curve, not the long-term one.
Chimeral variegation instability. Variegata and Whipped Cream are rare because their defining feature — the pale sectors in their leaves — cannot be reliably reproduced at scale. When a nursery takes a cutting from a Variegata plant, the resulting plant may be more variegated, less variegated, or fully reverted to green. There is no way to guarantee the commercial outcome. This is not a problem unique to ZZ plants — Monstera albo, Philodendron white wizard, and variegated rubber plants all face the same constraint. The result is that production remains small, supply never meets demand, and prices stay high.
Geographic distribution gaps. Jungle Warrior is not biologically rare — it is rare in the US because it was developed and marketed in a different hemisphere. As the global houseplant trade becomes more interconnected, regional distribution gaps are closing, but for now, some cultivars remain scarce simply because they were never exported to the North American market.
A Note on Toxicity
All ZZ plant varieties — standard species and all cultivars — contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals throughout their tissue: leaves, stems, rhizomes, and roots. These needle-like crystals, called raphides, cause oral irritation, excessive drooling, vomiting, and difficulty swallowing when plant tissue is chewed or ingested. According to NC State Extension, the toxicity is classified as medium severity for cats and dogs, with skin and eye irritation possible on contact with sap. The RHS advises wearing protective gloves when handling and washing hands thoroughly after contact.
No cultivar is safer than any other in this regard — the calcium oxalate distribution is a species-wide trait and is not altered by colour, variegation, or growth habit. Keep all ZZ plants out of reach of children and pets. The darker cultivars (Raven, Supernova) are sometimes assumed to be more toxic because of their unusual appearance; this is not the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rarest ZZ plant variety?
Among varieties in regular (if limited) commercial circulation, Whipped Cream is consistently the hardest to source. Its extreme variegation — predominantly cream foliage — makes large-scale propagation unviable, so supply stays very low relative to collector demand.
Is Raven ZZ actually black?
Mature Raven leaves are a very deep purple-black that reads as black in most indoor lighting. In bright indirect light or when backlit, you can see the purple undertone. The transformation from lime green (new growth) to near-black (mature growth) takes approximately 6–8 weeks under normal indoor conditions.
Can I grow ZZ plant varieties outdoors?
All ZZ plant cultivars are frost-tender. According to NC State Extension, they are hardy to USDA zones 9a–10b only, meaning outdoor year-round cultivation is only viable in frost-free regions like South Florida, coastal Southern California, and Hawaii. Anywhere temperatures drop below 60°F in winter, bring them inside.
Do different ZZ varieties have different care needs?
Core care — watering frequency, temperature range, fertilising schedule — is effectively the same across all cultivars. Two important exceptions: variegated forms (Variegata, Whipped Cream) need more light than solid-green types to sustain their pale sectors; and compact forms (Zenzi, Zamicro) are more sensitive to overwatering because their smaller root systems drain more slowly than larger-potted standard cultivars.
How do I tell Raven from Supernova?
On young plants, it is nearly impossible. On fully mature specimens in good light: Raven shows a clearly purple-black hue with some light transmission through the leaflet; Supernova appears flatter, darker, and more true-black with minimal purple undertone. Both have lime green new growth. If a seller cannot confirm which cultivar a young dark ZZ is, ask to see a photo of a mature stem from the same mother plant.
Sources
- NC State Extension — Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- NC State Extension — ZZ Raven™ ‘Dowon’
- Royal Horticultural Society — Zamioculcas zamiifolia
- Royal Horticultural Society — ZZ Raven (‘Dowon’PBR)
- Royal Horticultural Society — ZZ Zenzi (‘Hansoti 13’PBR)
- Iowa State University Extension — The ZZ Plant
- University of Florida IFAS — ZZ Plant
