Each spring brings the opportunity to discover new plants for your home and garden. If you're searching for a unique houseplant that's easy to care for, look no further than the Raven ZZ plant from the Costa Farms Trending Tropicals collection. This dark-leafed beauty debuted in 2019, and since then, it has gained in popularity with both experienced collectors and beginners.
At first, availability was limited, which meant Raven was hard to come by, and the plants were often sold for a pretty penny. But since then, growers have had enough time to increase their stock, which means you can readily find Raven nationwide in stores like Walmart, The Home Depot, and Lowe's, if not at your local grocery store.
Raven ZZ plant is toxic to humans and pets.
Raven ZZ Plant Facts
It Has Purple (Almost-Black) Foliage
Raven is distinguished by deep, deep purple, glossy leaves. The foliage is so dark it can appear black in rooms with low lighting. Justin Hancock, head of brand marketing at Costa Farms, describes this variety as "a stylish version of a practically indestructible, tried-and-true houseplant. Its purple-black foliage stands out and fits in a wide variety of home decor styles." The sleek leaves and striking color evoke the popular modern farmhouse style and fit right in with classic black and white decorating schemes.
Buy It: Raven ZZ Plant (Walmart)
It's Attention-Getting
A focal point on its own, Raven can anchor a tabletop or mantle. Its shiny leaves and strong, upright stems give it a bold visual presence, making it a wonderful plant for modern or contemporary homes. Play up its purple-black foliage by pairing it with colorful, hard-to-kill houseplants, such as Chinese evergreen, red aglaonema, and snake plant.
Anyone Can Grow It
Like its green-hued cousins in the ZZ plant family, Raven is one of the easiest houseplants to grow. It's the perfect plant for newbies or people with busy lifestyles who might not have time to care for houseplants regularly. The ZZ plant can tolerate almost all types of light levels, from low to bright, but it's best to keep it out of direct sunlight. However, to keep its leaves as dark as possible, ensure it gets plenty of light, even indirect light.
Since it's drought tolerant, Raven doesn't mind low humidity and can go without water for a couple of weeks. In fact, it grows best when the soil is allowed to dry between waterings since wet soil can lead to root rot, which will result in mushy stems. Make sure its pot has plenty of drainage to keep soil from getting waterlogged. It's a slow grower, so expect it to reach about 30 inches tall and wide over several years.
Like super-popular black succulents, Raven appeals to houseplant lovers' desire for new and unusual finds that are easy to keep alive. So keep your eye out for this dark-leafed beauty at garden centers and grocery stores near you.