Recently I was able to get my hands on some lovely rare plants and thought it would be fun to share my new finds. Sometimes I find it interesting what is considered a “rare plant”. It is a hot ticket phrase, but for full transparency I would prefer to call these plants “hard-to-find” rather than truly “rare”.

First up is the dark and heavily coveted Zamioculcus zamifolia ‘Raven’, commonly known as “ZZ Raven”. It looks a lot like the traditional ZZ however, this one is black, which is why it is so sought after. It’s new sprouts come out looking lime green and then slowly transform into a lovely dark shade.

Care tips for “ZZ Raven”:

Care for the ‘Raven’ is very similar to the traditional ‘ZZ’. Here are some simple care tips for the “ZZ Raven”:

  • Bright Indirect light but can take low light
  • Very well-draining soil Water sparingly, once or twice a month
  • Light fertilizer in spring and summer
  • Like to be root bound

Next up we have the “Mini Monstera”, Rhaphidophora tetrasperma. This climber has unique split leaves and loves to climb. It sought after for its “windowed” leaves and easy care. They propagate well by cuttings and that is exactly what I was able to get my hands on, a sweet little cutting. So far it has put out many new leaves and is well on its way to needing a climbing pole.

Simple care tips for the Rhaphidophora tetrasperma:

  • Even moist soil that is well-draining
  • Water when dry
  • Bright indirect light
  • Light fertilize in spring and summer

Lastly, but definetly not least, we have the Alocasia zebrina. I am not sure what it is about these Aroids that I love so much, but when I saw this specimen sitting under the poor lighting of my local gorcery store, I had to grab it. This Alocasia has really cool stripping on its long stems and lovely large green leaves. You might be on the hunt for the elusive Alocasia zebrina reticulata that has amazingly stripped foliage.

Care tips for Alocasia zebrina:

  • Evenly moist soil
  • Water when the top is dry
  • Well-draining soil
  • Increase humidity
  • Bright indirect sunlight

So there you have my “rare” plant tour. I am really excited to add these plants to my collection and see how they grow. If you are into interesting plants, check out this post on the Alocasia ‘Pink Dragon”

I would love to see your “rare plant” collection. DM me on Instagram @SuburbanSill

Houseplants are a great way to bring nature inside, but some apartment-dwellers may find it difficult to find the perfect plants for their space. Since some apartments have minimal natural light and square footage, it’s important to know which plants are resilient enough to survive in that environment.

In order to help renters with this, Redfin consulted plant enthusiasts from Denver, CO, to Chicago, IL, including us, to share our best recommendations and care tips. By the end, you’ll know what the best plants for apartments are, how to keep them healthy, and how to use them to decorate a space. Check out my tip on Pot it Like it’s Hot: Best Plants for Apartments.