Common Names: Corn plant, dracaena, false palm
Botanical Name:   Dracaena fragrans
Family:                      Asparagaceae
Plant Type:              Broadleaf, evergreen, shrub/tree
Bloom Time:           Late fall and then again in late spring; nighttime bloomer
Flower Color:          White, yellow
Native Area:            Africa (tropics)
The corn plant (Dracaena fragrans) is a tropical African evergreen tree popular in Europe as an indoor plant since the mid-1800s—and in the U.S. since the early 20th century. They grow fairly slowly, from thick canes or stems that produce long, narrow leaves like stalks of corn, growing upward. This growth habit also makes them look a lot like palm trees, which is why they’re sometimes called “false palms.” They make good houseplants because they are tall and narrow, typically only reaching around 4- to 6-feet tall in containers.
These plants aren't high maintenance once you get their growing conditions right. Springtime is ideal for starting new plants, though you can typically pot nursery plants indoors any time of year. if you have cats or dogs, pass on this plant as dracaena is toxic to both.