'Raven' ZZ plant guide
Zamioculcas zamiifolia 'Raven', also called black ZZ plant, Raven ZZ, 'Dowon'
Published 2026-11-08
Quick care
- Light
- Low
- Water
- When the soil is dry all the way down
- Humidity
- Dry room air is fine
- Temperature
- 15 to 29°C (60 to 85°F). Keep above 10°C (50°F).
- Soil
- Well-draining houseplant mix with extra perlite
- Feeding
- Half-strength fertilizer two or three times in spring and summer
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs if chewed
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Mature size
- 60 to 90 cm (2 to 3 ft) tall
- Propagation
- Division, or leaf cuttings (slow)
- Where to buy
- Common
This page covers what makes 'Raven' ZZ plant different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the ZZ plant care guide.
What it is
‘Raven’ is a ZZ plant with glossy, near-black leaves. Select-A-Plant lists it as part of the Costa Farms Trending Tropicals line. It grows the same thick, upright stems as a regular ZZ, up to about 90 cm (3 ft) tall, and it is just as tough.
How to tell it apart
| Plant | Leaves | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Raven’ | Glossy, near-black | Mature leaves are purple-black |
| ZZ plant | Glossy, bright green | Green all the way |
| ‘Zenzi’ ZZ plant | Small, crowded, dark green | Short and compact, with leaves packed close |
Why new leaves come in green
New ‘Raven’ stems unfurl bright lime green. They darken to black over four to six weeks. This is normal. A plant with green new growth and black old growth is healthy.
If leaves stay green for months, it needs more light. ‘Raven’ handles low light, but the black comes in deeper with bright indirect light.
Care differences
None to speak of. Water only when the soil is dry all the way down. ‘Raven’ rots as fast as a regular ZZ when kept wet.
Grow it from a cutting
Leaf cuttings root, but they take months. Cut a single leaflet or a stem piece, let it dry for a day, and set it in moist soil or water. A small potato-like rhizome forms first, then roots, then a new shoot. That can take three to six months. Division is faster.
Buying it
‘Raven’ is common at garden centers and big box stores. Look for firm, upright stems and black leaves. A few green new stems are fine. Skip plants with yellow stems or soft spots at the base.
In my house
I grow the black ‘Raven’ type. Like all my ZZ plants, it is easy and needs almost no care.
