Tropic Marianne Dumb Cane

Tropic Marianne Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia 'Tropic Marianne') is one of the brightest foliage plants you can grow in a dim room. The broad leaves are almost entirely cream and pale yellow with a thin green margin, on a compact plant that reaches about 80cm tall and 60cm wide indoors. It asks for warmth, shelter and very little else.

Why you'll love it

• Pale foliage lifts a dark corner. The cream variegation carries a spot that would swallow a plain green plant.
• Compact and slow growing. At about 80cm by 60cm it holds its place on a bench or beside a lounge for years.
• Forgiving of a missed week. It prefers evenly moist mix but tolerates drying out between waterings better than most tropical foliage plants.
• Honest warning about the sap. All parts contain calcium oxalate crystals, an irritant that is toxic to pets and to people if chewed. This is not a plant for a household with a chewer.

Where it works best

Indoors anywhere in the country. Bright indirect light a metre or two back from a window is ideal, and direct sun scorches the pale sections of the leaf.

Sheltered pots and courtyards. Outdoors it needs a frost free, shaded, wind sheltered position, which limits it to tropical, subtropical and warm temperate gardens. A single cold snap ends it.

Feature planting under cover. Grouped in threes on a covered patio or in a light well, the pale leaves lift a shaded scheme that would otherwise read as flat green.

Growing Tropic Marianne Dumb Cane in Australia

Position and climate. Warm, humid and out of direct sun. Ordinary indoor temperatures suit it, and growth stalls near ten degrees. Keep it clear of air conditioning outlets and cold draughts.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix opened up with perlite or coarse bark. The pot needs a drainage hole, and the saucer should be emptied after every water.

Water and feed. Water once the top 30mm of mix is dry, roughly weekly in summer and every two to three weeks in winter. Liquid feed at half strength monthly from spring to autumn.

Pruning. Wear gloves and wash your hands afterwards. Remove lower leaves as they yellow, and cut a leggy stem back to about 150mm in spring; it reshoots readily from the cane.

What to expect when it arrives

It is supplied as a pack of ten plants in 125mm pots, which suits a large indoor planting, a commercial fit out or a shared order rather than a single benchtop plant. Each is a young multi stemmed plant with the variegation already well developed.

Soft foliage can arrive with a bruised or creased leaf after transit, which is normal and not a fault. Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Give them a week in bright indirect light before the first feed, and expect new leaves within a month. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• Plants for low light rooms
• Compare variegated foliage plants

Common questions

Is it safe around pets and children?

No. The sap contains calcium oxalate crystals that cause burning, swelling and drooling if chewed, in animals and people alike. Keep it above floor level in a home with pets or small children.

Why are the leaves losing their cream colour?

Not enough light. Move it closer to a window, but keep it out of direct sun, which bleaches then scorches the pale sections.

Why are the lower leaves turning yellow?

Usually too much water, or a pot with no drainage hole. Let the top of the mix dry before watering again and empty the saucer each time. The odd yellow leaf at the base is just normal ageing.