Corn Plant

Dracaena fragrans, known as Corn Plant or Cornstalk Plant, is an evergreen tropical shrub with upright woody stems and broad arching leaves. It grows slowly and serves as a foliage specimen indoors or as a screen in warm landscapes. [NC State Extension](https://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/dracaena-fragrans/common-name/warneckei-dracaena/) describes its filtered-light needs, habit, and uses. ## Landscape Use Grow it as a floor plant or group several canes for a leafy backdrop where frost is rare. Size varies from a manageable container plant to a large outdoor shrub. Several named selections are grown as houseplants; Massangeana has a yellow center stripe and Warneckii has gray-green leaves with white or green stripes. ## Growing Conditions Give bright or moderate filtered light and protect leaves from harsh direct sun. Use a draining potting mix and a container with drainage holes. Keep soil moist during active growth, then reduce watering in winter. Brown tips can indicate dry indoor air or mineral salts in water. ## Maintenance Wipe dust from leaves and rotate the pot for even growth. Repot when roots fill the container and remove damaged leaves at their base. Keep temperatures warm and protect outdoor plants from cold. Check leaf undersides for scale, mealybugs, or thrips.