Field ManualAll plants

Photo: Mokkie, via Wikimedia CommonsLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0

Zebra plant

Aphelandra squarrosa

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them
Hazardous parts
Not yet checked.
Preparation
Not yet checked.
Hazard type
Not yet checked.
Hazard route
Not stated by the cited source(s).
How complete this information is
The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets
No ASPCA entry found.

Not assessed for pets. A single source, or an ASPCA page plus a bare NC State tag, is not enough to show a plant is safe, so the app makes no pet-safety claim either way.

PlotAndPetal cannot tell you whether a plant you found can be eaten. Only someone who can see the plant can identify it.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Care

Hardiness zones

USDA zones 11a to 12b (NC State).

Water needs

moderate

Mature size

Height 4 to 6 ft, width 4 to 5 ft (NC State). It is usually much smaller in a pot.

Family

Acanthaceae (NC State)

Where it comes from

Northeast and southeast Brazil (NC State).

Soil & Drainage
Pruning & Flush Rhythm
Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

Get the app: coming soon

Anatomy & Guilds

Botanical Anatomy & Characteristics

How the flowers and leaves are built and which pollinators visit, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Field Doctor

Field Doctor

What can go wrong with this plant and what to do about it, where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Vintage Plates

Vintage Plates

Old botanical drawings from public libraries are in the app, for plants where we have them.

Get the app: coming soon

Sources

  1. NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, Aphelandra squarrosa (Checked October 2026)
  2. Kew Plants of the World Online - Aphelandra squarrosa Nees
  3. ASPCA, Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Saffron Spike Zebra (Aphelandra squarrosa) (Checked October 2026)
  4. ASPCA Toxic and Non-toxic Plants: Saffron Spike Zebra (Checked October 2026)

How we choose sources

Wishlists live in the app

Wishlists are part of the Plot & Petal app, which is coming soon. Nothing is added to a wishlist from this page.

Get the app: coming soon