Why are they called zz plants?
Named after: The ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia) gets its name from the shortened version of its scientific name. The ZZ stands for the genus Zamioculcas, while zamiifolia refers to the plant’s resemblance to foliage in the Zamia genus, specifically plants like the cardboard palm or cycads. Zamioculcas zamiifolia is native to East Africa, from Kenya to South Africa. It’s in the Araceae, or Arum family, the same plant family as the familiar houseplant peace lily (Spathiphyllum cochlearispathum). If and when the ZZ plant flowers, it produces a spadix-type flower similar to the peace lily but harder to see.