Zamioculcas zamiifolia, usually known as the ZZ plant, is a plant from Africa which is now becoming a common house plant.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia — known as the ZZ plant, Toronto Zoo.
Zamioculcas requires somewhat dry soil and over watering can easily destroy the plant.
As a house plant it is still somewhat uncommon and some planted specimens are surprisingly expensive — especially considering that it is not that difficult to care for.
I thought a Zamioculcas would look good in my living room and I have picked one up at a flower shop. To my great surprise it came with a label that sad Patent Pending Propagation Prohibited.
A cultivar of the ZZ plant which was patented under the name Zamicro and it is illegal to propagate at home.
Apparently the variety that I have picked up is a cultivar named Zamicro. I thought it was genetically modified, but it seems that Zamicro was derived from a naturally occurring variation of the Zamioculcas yet someone has managed to get a patent on it.
So beware, if your house plant grows too big and you decide to split it into two, you might be breaking the law!
I am not sure what exactly would happen, or if they throw you in jail for splitting a house plant into two, but it does seem the world has gone insane.
Further Readings:
The Z(ee) Z(ee) Plant
How To Care For The ZZ Plant – Zamioculcas Zamiifolia.
How To Grow ZZ Plants.
Patent:
The Zamicro Patent.