Zebra plant
Aphelandra squarrosa
Also called Aphelandra
Houseplant · Patterned foliageIt drops its lower leaves the moment the air goes dry, and they never come back. Cut it hard after flowering and start it again.
Care at a glance
- Ease
- Very hard
- Water
- Every 5 daysDrench and drain — water the whole surface until it runs from the holes.
- Light
- Bright indirect
- Feed
- Every 21 days
- Humidity
- Very high
- Hardiness
- Indoors, or out in high summer RHS H1B, to 10°C
- Size
- 1.25 m tall · 1.25 m across
- Lifecycle
- Shrub
- Origin
- Brazil
Is it safe for pets and people?
PetsSafe for pets
PeopleNot checked yet
Nobody has checked this one against a source for us yet, so treat it as unknown rather than safe.
Checked against ASPCA and RHS on 2026-07-31.
A guide, not veterinary or medical advice. If a pet or a person has eaten a plant and you are worried, call your vet or doctor now — don’t wait for signs to appear. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
First signs of trouble
- The lowest pairs of leaves yellow and fall in the weeks after the yellow bract fades, leaving a bare stem — cut back to a low pair of leaves rather than waiting.Leaf drop after flowering · disorder
- Brown discs pressed along the pale midrib on the underside, standing out against the white veining.Scale insect · pest