Corn Plant
Dracaena fragrans (L.) Ker Gawl.
Location
Administrative Block 1
Family
Asparagaceae
Common names
Corn Plant, Fragrant Dracaena, Cornstalk Dracaena
Native range
Tropical Africa, from Sudan south to Mozambique and west to Côte d’Ivoire and Angola
Habitat
Naturally found in tropical forests, often growing under the canopy in shaded or semi-shaded areas. It is widely cultivated worldwide as an indoor ornamental plant and is also used in landscaping in tropical and subtropical regions.
Flowering
Rare indoors; outdoors, flowering may occur seasonally, often during cooler months or following stress conditions
Fruiting
Irregular and mostly observed in outdoor or mature specimens
Conservation status
Least Concern (LC)
About this plant
Dracaena fragrans has long, narrow, glossy green leaves resembling those of maize, which gives rise to the common name. Leaves usually measure 30–90 cm in length and arch gracefully. In mature plants, especially under outdoor conditions, highly fragrant, white to pale pink flowers may appear in long, drooping panicles, followed by orange to red berries. Flowering is rare in indoor plants.
Uses
Primarily cultivated as an ornamental foliage plant and highly valued as a low-maintenance indoor species. It is known for its air-purifying qualities and aesthetic appeal in homes and offices. In certain African traditional practices, parts of the plant are used in folk medicine for wound healing and other minor remedies, though such uses are limited.
Growing conditions
Thrives in bright, indirect light but tolerates low-light conditions. Prefers well-drained loamy soils and moderate watering and is sensitive to overwatering. Grows best in warm, humid environments and must be protected from frost
Habit
Slow-growing evergreen shrub or small tree with a woody stem and tufted rosettes of leaves at the top of thick, cane-like stems. It typically grows up to 2–6 m outdoors and about 1–2 m when grown indoors.