Corn Plant

Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana') is the indoor tree for a bare corner in a room that does not get much light. Thick woody canes carry arching strap leaves with a broad gold stripe down the centre, reaching about 2m tall and 1m wide indoors. It is slow, steady and remarkably hard to kill, as long as you water it less often than instinct suggests.

Why you'll love it

• Real height indoors. At around 2m it fills the corner a floor lamp cannot, and the bare canes keep the floor space usable.
• It tolerates low light. Hallways, stairwells and offices away from a window all work, though growth is faster in bright indirect light.
• Variegated foliage all year. The gold centre stripe lifts a dim room, and there are no flowers or leaf drop to manage indoors.
• It handles being forgotten. The canes store water, so a fortnight away does no harm. Overwatering is the only real threat.

Where it works best

Indoors, anywhere in Australia. Inside a home or office the outdoor climate stops mattering, which matters for a plant this frost tender. Living rooms, receptions, stairwells and dim hallways all suit it.

Pots, balconies and courtyards. Outdoors it needs a frost free tropical or subtropical garden and a sheltered spot out of hot afternoon sun. Further south, keep it potted and bring it under cover for winter.

One caveat. The leaves contain saponins and are toxic to cats and dogs if chewed, so this is not the plant for a household with a pet that grazes on foliage.

Growing Corn Plant in Australia

Position and climate. Bright indirect light is ideal and low light is tolerated. Avoid direct sun through glass, which bleaches and burns the leaves. Indoors it wants normal room warmth and no cold draughts.

Soil. A quality indoor potting mix with extra perlite or bark for drainage, in a pot with a working drainage hole. It is content slightly root bound, so avoid sizing up every year.

Water and feed. Let the top third of the mix dry out, then soak and drain: usually every one to two weeks in the warm months and every three to four in winter. Feed at half strength monthly from spring to autumn.

Pruning. Little is needed. Remove lower leaves as they yellow, and if it grows too tall, cut the cane cleanly at the height you want and let it branch from there.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in 125mm and 140mm packs of ten, 200mm packs of six, 250mm packs of three, and single 300mm plants. The smaller pots hold young single stemmed plants well under a metre, useful where you need numbers. The 300mm is the one to choose for presence in a corner straight away.

Thick leaves and stored water make this an easy traveller. Expect a quiet month after it lands, then new growth from the top of each cane. Delivered Australia wide, delivery from $29.95, and every plant carries our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• How to keep your indoor plants alive
• Best low light plants for the home
• Browse the full indoor plant range
• Choose an indoor pot with proper drainage

Common questions

Is it safe around cats and dogs?

No. The leaves contain saponins, which cause drooling, vomiting and appetite loss in cats and dogs if eaten. Keep it out of reach of pets that chew plants.

Why are the leaf tips turning brown?

Usually the fluoride and salts in tap water, which this genus is sensitive to. Switch to rainwater or filtered water, flush the pot occasionally, and trim the brown tips off with scissors.

Can it really live in a dark room?

It survives in low light, but survival and growth are different things. Expect very slow growth and paler variegation away from a window.

How do I stop it hitting the ceiling?

Cut the cane at whatever height suits with clean secateurs. New shoots emerge just below the cut within a couple of months in warm weather.