Aphelandra Squarrosa Botanica Plants GrowTropicals
Zebra Plant

Aphelandra Squarrosa Botanica

£15.99
Humidity-loverPet-safe
Pot size
12cm £15.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Aphelandra squarrosa 'Botanica', the Zebra Plant, is a bold tropical beauty with glossy dark green leaves boldly striped in bright white veins, crowned by dramatic golden-yellow flower bracts. A high-impact foliage and flowering plant in one.

Origins
Aphelandra squarrosa is native to the Atlantic coastal rainforests of Brazil, where it grows as a shrub in the warm, shaded, humid understorey.

Soil and Substrate
Our Simply Houseplant Potting Mix is a peat-free, free-draining blend that holds the steady moisture this tropical shrub enjoys.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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7 day live arrival guarantee
Delivered to your door with care
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How to care for Zebra Plant

Set me near a bright window, out of direct sun and water me little and often so I stay evenly moist.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
Get to know me

About Zebra Plant

Aphelandra Squarrosa Botanica is a houseplant that takes a little effort. It needs bright indirect light, watering often enough to keep the compost evenly moist, high humidity and a minimum temperature of 18°C. It is listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs.

Good for

Kitchen

Care level

EasyChallenge

A little effort

Light

ShadeFull sun

Bright, indirect light

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in bright, indirect light or dappled shade. Keep it away from direct sun, which can scorch its delicate leaves. For healthy growth and vibrant foliage, place it near a north-facing or east-facing window where it will receive plenty of filtered light.

Learn more →

Watering

Evenly moistDries out fully

Keep evenly moist

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth. Read moreShow less

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Water your plant when the top 1/3 to 1/2 of the soil feels slightly dry, and always ensure the pot has good drainage. Avoid soggy soil or standing water, and do not let the plant dry out completely, as steady moisture is essential for healthy growth.

Humidity

Average homeHigh humidity

Needs high humidity

This plant will tolerate normal household humidity, but performs best with slightly higher levels. Like all tropical plants, good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. If you have a particularly dry home, grouping plants together can help to increase humidity. Read moreShow less

This plant will tolerate normal household humidity, but performs best with slightly higher levels. Like all tropical plants, good humidity levels help support healthy growth and keep the foliage healthy. If you have a particularly dry home, grouping plants together can help to increase humidity.

Learn more →

Temperature

Keep above 18°C · Likes a warm room

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth. Read moreShow less

This plant grows best in warm temperatures between 18°C and 26°C. Keep it away from cold draughts and avoid temperatures below 15°C, as cooler conditions can stress the plant and affect healthy growth.

Feeding

Feed monthly with a balanced fertiliser from spring to autumn, and let it rest over winter.

Growth habit

Upright →

Plant type

Foliage houseplant →

Toxicity

Listed as non-toxic to cats and dogs. Plants still are not food, so a determined chewer may get an upset stomach.

Also known as

Aphelandra Squarrosa Botanica

Genus

Aphelandra →
More on caring for houseplants What does bright indirect light mean? Should I mist my houseplants?
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this plant be flowering upon arrival?

We can't guarantee flowers at the time of delivery. Flowering depends on the plant's current growth stage and the conditions it has been kept in. Once settled in a bright spot with the right care, it should flower in season.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

Verified reviews

Rated by real customers

Customers praised this "unusual" and "pretty" plant with "lovely, plump leaves" that arrived healthy. Most received it in excellent condition with careful packaging. One customer noted the flower was slightly past its peak, and another experienced leaf drop after delivery but the plant stabilized. Great value.

  • Lovely, plump leaves. A nice show off plant for a good price.
  • Such a pretty plant. Super healthy!!
  • Beautiful and healthy plant, care taken when wrapped up for delivery.
  • 5 stars: 3 (60%)
  • 4 stars: 2 (40%)
  • 3 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 2 stars: 0 (0%)
  • 1 star: 0 (0%)
Z
Zoe W.
Seems to be doing fine now.

Lost quite a few lower leaves after delivery BUT seems to of stabilised now.

Zoe W. review photo
K
Kiana M.
Lovely, plump leaves. A nice

Lovely, plump leaves. A nice show off plant for a good price.

Kiana M. review photo
A
Anonymous (United Kingdom)
12cm

Very unusual plant, arrived in lovely condition , flower was just a little gone over

A
Annie M.
Pretty!!

Such a pretty plant. Super healthy!!

J
Joan W.
Beautiful and healthy plant, no

Beautiful and healthy plant, no damage with plant, care taken when wrapped up for delivery. Very happy with purchase.

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