Aphelandra squarrosa / 'Zebra Plant'

Aphalendra Squarrosa, also known as Zebra Plant or Saffron Spike, is named for its glossy green leaves marked with bold white veins – similar to a Zebra’s stripes. In its tropical home of Brazil, this plant grows into a 4 foot tall shrubs. As a houseplant, you can expect heights of around 15 to 24 inches.

Although prized for its attractive foliage, the Zebra Plant also produces beautiful flowers when given proper care. A happy plant blooms in late summer to fall, producing delicate yellow flowers that emerge from clusters of yellow bracts. Flowers last several days, and bracts last up to six weeks. Luckily, when we did our shoot for the Zebra Plants they were flowering not with 1 flower but with 3 flowers and 7 other buds. Magical!

This particular plant makes a great gift, especially for those plant loving family and friends who have almost every plant under the sun! We can bet almost 70% of the time they will not have this one. 

*Pot size 15cm. Non toxic to pets.*

Did you know?

The zebra plant is also referred to as a "saffron spike" due to it's unique golden-yellow blooms.

Watering

Constant moisture is necessary for good Aphelandra squarrosa care. Never allow the soil to dry out, or your plant will quickly die. Water when the top 2 inches of the potting medium feels dry to the touch. Getting the water right is a delicate balance, and it might take practice.

Keep soil moist, but never wet or soggy. Too much standing water may lead to root rot. Make sure your soil is well-draining and the planter has drainage holes in the bottom, not only for this but for all plants.

Lighting

Late Spring: 

Place in bright light from a south- or west-facing window (but not in direct sunlight), or move to a shady porch or patio outdoors. Hang sheer curtains to filter direct sun and avoid burning leaves if necessary. When exposed to bright light for 3 months, your zebra plant will bloom in the fall, it’s natural flowering season.

Late Fall or Early Winter: 

After flowers fade and the bracts deteriorate, move to a cool room that receives indirect light for at least two months (or until late spring). An east- or north-facing window is a good location for the resting period.

 Note: When purchasing plants please consider that each live item is unique and may therefore differ from the images shown, which are for illustration purposes only. Depending on season, some plants may be pruned back to encourage growth and deciduous plants may arrive without leaves. Collections or 'mixed' listings for plants will be selected dependant on availability and carefully hand-picked to ensure their quality.