# Cornstalk Dracaena (*dracaena fragrans*)

The Cornstalk Dracaena is a tall, leafy plant that can grow indoors and outdoors. Its long, green leaves make it look like a little tree, perfect for bringing a touch of nature inside!

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Typically found in tropical regions but commonly grown as a houseplant.
- **Also known as:** Pleomele

![Cornstalk Dracaena](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Dracaena_fragrans_a1.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Jerzy Opioła, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dracaena_fragrans_a1.jpg)

## Appearance

The Cornstalk Dracaena has a thick, woody trunk resembling a cornstalk, topped with a rosette of long, arching leaves. Its distinctive foliage often showcases vibrant green with central yellow or cream stripes, making it a popular indoor plant.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Liliopsida
- **Order:** Asparagales
- **Family:** Asparagaceae
- **Genus:** Dracaena

## Interesting facts

- If cut, the stem can sprout new branches, allowing it to regrow!
- Its sap was once used for medicinal purposes and as a dye!
- Its tiny flowers release a sweet, strong fragrance, especially at night!
- This plant’s scientific name, Dracaena, means "female dragon" in Greek!

## Special abilities

- **Air Purifier:** Cornstalk Dracaena can absorb airborne toxins like formaldehyde, making indoor air cleaner for everyone to breathe.
- **Shadow Dweller:** Cornstalk Dracaena has a special pigment that helps it capture light efficiently, allowing it to thrive in dimly lit indoor spaces.
- **Water Hoarder:** Cornstalk Dracaena can store water in its thick, woody stem, helping it survive long periods between watering.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 50-150 cm
- **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Late winter to early spring
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** Hummingbird hawkmoth (*Macroglossum stellatarum*) — Its fragrant flowers attract nocturnal moths
- **Eats:** Giant African land snail (*Achatina fulica*) — Snails can graze on its leaves in native habitats
- **Eaten by:** African bush elephant (*Loxodonta africana*) — Elephants may browse on the foliage of wild plants

## Traits

- [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.

## Collections

- [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

No special safety notes yet.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Cornstalk Dracaena?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Cornstalk Dracaena?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Cornstalk Dracaena spread?

50-150 cm

### How big are the flowers on Cornstalk Dracaena?

1-2 cm

### When does Cornstalk Dracaena bloom?

Late winter to early spring

### Is Cornstalk Dracaena edible?

No

### Is Cornstalk Dracaena toxic?

Mild

### What is Cornstalk Dracaena's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Clear Lake Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clear-lake-park) — Florida, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Cornstalk Dracaena: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cornstalk-dracaena)