Corn plant guide
Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana', also called mass cane, Dracaena massangeana, fragrant dracaena
Published 2026-11-08
Quick care
- Light
- Medium
- Water
- When the top 5 cm (2 in) of soil is dry
- Humidity
- Average room air is fine
- Temperature
- 16 to 27°C (60 to 80°F). Keep above 13°C (55°F).
- Soil
- Well-draining houseplant mix
- Feeding
- Half-strength fertilizer monthly in spring and summer
- Pets
- Toxic to cats and dogs. Causes vomiting and, in cats, dilated pupils.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Mature size
- 1.2 to 2 m (4 to 6 ft) tall indoors
- Propagation
- Top cuttings or cane pieces, rooted in water or soil
- Where to buy
- Common
This page covers what makes corn plant different. For light, water, soil, pests, and the rest, read the dracaena care guide.
What it is
Corn plant has long, wide, arching leaves with a yellow-green stripe down the center, in tufts on top of thick canes. The leaves look like a corn stalk. Stores often sell it as “mass cane,” with two or three canes of different heights in one pot. Select-A-Plant lists it at 3 to 4.5 m (10 to 15 ft) in the wild. Indoors it stays much shorter.
How to tell it apart
| Plant | Leaves | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| Corn plant | Wide, arching, yellow center stripe | Yellow stripe down the middle |
| ‘Janet Craig’ dracaena | Wide, glossy, solid dark green | No stripe |
| ‘Lemon Lime’ dracaena | Lime edges with white stripes | Bright lime outer edges |
Care differences
Corn plant handles low light well, though the yellow stripe fades a bit. It is sensitive to fluoride and salts in tap water. Rainwater or filtered water keeps the tips green.
Flowers
Older corn plants sometimes bloom with round clusters of small white flowers. They open at night and have a strong, sweet scent. Some people love it. Others find it too much. The sticky nectar can drip, so cut the stalk off if it bothers you.
Grow it from a cutting
Cut the top off a cane and root it in water or moist soil. The cane left behind sprouts new tufts below the cut.
Buying it
Corn plant is common at garden centers and big box stores. Look for firm canes with no soft spots and leaves with few brown tips.