What is a Corn Houseplant?
The corn houseplant is one that grows on a single stalk, with leaves that closely resemble the leaves of a young corn plant. Some varieties have dark green leaves, while others have green foliage with a yellow stripe down the middle.
Corn houseplants can grow as tall as 10-12 feet (3-3.5 meters), although wild varieties can grow much as triple that height. As you can see, the corn plant is similar to sweet corn in the garden in name only!
Varieties of the Corn Houseplant
There are several different varieties of the corn houseplant, each of which has its own characteristics.
- Dracaena fragrans: This variety of the corn plant is not very common, as most people prefer the variegated leaves of other types. The D. fragrans has solid, dark green leaves.
- Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ is the most common variety, with dark green foliage that has a yellow stripe running through the middle.
- Dracaena fragrans ‘Lindenii’ has the same green foliage but the yellow stripe is on the outside of each leaf instead of the middle.
Tip: All varieties of corn houseplants are equally hardy, so which you choose is a matter of preference.
Caring for the Corn Houseplant
One of the reasons the corn houseplant is so popular is because it is nearly impossible to kill. Of course, there is an ideal growing environment for them. They grow best when they have abundant light as well as regular watering, just as any plant does.
However, unlike the corn growing in a garden, the corn houseplant can be somewhat neglected and still thrive. For example, you often see corn plants in office buildings with mostly artificial light, and perhaps weekly watering. The corn plants also tolerate an array of temperatures.
Whether you are an avid in-house gardener who babies their houseplants or a casual-at-best-grower, the corn houseplant is an excellent plant to provide a hint of nature in even the darkest apartment.
