Variegated ZZ plant guide
Zamioculcas zamiifolia variegated, also called ZZ 'Variegata', white variegated ZZ
Published 2026-11-08
Quick care
- Light
- Bright indirect
- 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
- Collector
This page covers what makes variegated ZZ plant different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the ZZ plant care guide.
What it is
Variegated ZZ plant is a ZZ with white or cream patches on its leaves and stems. Some leaves are half white. Some are streaked. The variegation comes from a natural mutation, so each plant is different. It grows slower than a green ZZ and costs much more.
How to tell it apart
| Plant | Leaves | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| Variegated ZZ | Green with white or cream sections | White shows on the stem too |
| ZZ plant | Solid glossy green | No white anywhere |
| ‘Raven’ ZZ plant | Near-black | Dark leaves, green new growth |
Care differences
The white parts cannot make food. Give it bright indirect light so it keeps growing. In low light, it may stall for months.
It still needs the soil dry all the way down before you water. It grows slower, so it uses water slower too.
Reverting
Check the stems. A stem with white streaks grows variegated leaves. A stem that comes up all green will stay green. You cannot change a green stem back. Keep the plant bright so new stems have the best chance to show white.
Grow it from a cutting
Take leaf or stem cuttings only from variegated stems. Let them dry for a day, then set them in moist soil. A rhizome forms first, then roots. It can take six months or more. The new shoot may come up green.
Buying it
Variegated ZZ is a collector plant, sold at specialty shops and online. Before you pay a high price:
- Look for white on the stems, not only on a leaf or two.
- Rub a white patch. Painted or sprayed plants exist.
- Ask how many stems are variegated. A pot with one variegated stem and four green stems is close to a regular ZZ.