Corn Plant – Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’

Common Name: Corn Plant

Botanical Name: Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana', dra-SEE-na FRAY-granz

Decorative Life: Many months to years.

Flower Color: White, Yellow

Availability: Year Round

During production this species can tolerate a wide range of fertilizer levels, irrigation practices and high temperatures. However, at the time of harvest wide variations in temperatures should be avoided. Also, if dolomite is added to the growing mix and the pH is maintained above 5.5, fluoride induced problems can be avoided.

• Member of the Agavaceae (agave family) with common relatives including yucca, tuberose, agave, pony tail, flax and ti-plant.
• Native from Sierra Leone to Malawi.

• Shrubby tree up to 50 feet in the wild but much shorter under interior conditions. Leaves are born on the upper portion of the stem, also called a cane.

Store between 55 and 65F. In one test plants were stored up to 28 days at temperatures from 55 to 61F with little to no loss in quality. One foot canes used for propagation can be stored for two weeks at 60-90F whereas three foot canes can tolerate somewhat longer storage periods.

• During shipping there seems to be no difference between sleeving and not sleeving, boxing or not boxing, as to the ultimate postharvest plant performance.
• Careful use of plant shines is recommended as some may damage the foliage.
• Dracaena: Greek for female dragon; the plant juice, when thickened, is supposed to resemble dragon’s blood.
• The agave family is important for fiber. This species is often one of the most neglected house plants yet often survives this neglect.
• Plantlets can be rooted in water, as can sections of canes when present.

As summarized by Brown (1988) of the work by Wolverton et al. (numerous years), this is one of many foliage and flowering plant species that can remove air pollutants such as formaldehyde and/or benzene often found in cigarette smoke from interior environments.