What it is: This listing is corn plant (Dracaena fragrans 'Massangeana', or mass cane, which NC State Extension describes as cornstalk-like leaves with yellowish-lime centre stripes).

Light: Dracaenas handle low light, which is why they suit spots away from windows or a north window, but they grow faster and keep stronger colour in bright, indirect light. NC State Extension lists them from deep shade to dappled light, and corn plant also tolerates a few hours of direct sun. Keep hot afternoon sun off the leaves. Colourful and variegated types keep their best colour with more light. A grow bulb in a lamp works well in darker rooms.

Watering & care: Use a well-drained potting mix. Water when the top few centimetres of mix have dried; our earlier listings suggest weekly or every two weeks, depending on your home. Don't let it sit in water. NC State Extension notes dracaenas are sensitive to fluoride and built-up salts, which show as brown leaf tips; water with non-fluoridated water if you can and flush the pot with plain water now and then.

Humidity: Average household humidity is fine. Very dry winter air can brown the leaf tips (NC State Extension); grouping plants or running a humidifier helps.

Temperature: Keep it in ordinary room temperatures, away from cold drafts, frosty windows and heat vents.

Winter indoors: Growth slows in winter: water less often, move it closer to your brightest window or add a grow light, and keep leaves off cold glass.

Expected indoor size: NC State Extension lists Dracaena fragrans (corn plant, Janet Craig and Warneckei types) at about 0.9–4.4 m (3–14.5 ft) tall and 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 ft) wide at maturity, and notes it grows slowly. Indoors in northern Alberta, with our short winter days, it usually takes many years to approach the upper end of that range.

Feeding: Feed with our Schultz All Purpose Plant Food from about March to September while it is actively growing; stop in winter.

Pets & pests: Toxic: the ASPCA lists Dracaena species, including corn plant (Dracaena fragrans), as toxic to dogs and cats because of saponins, causing vomiting, drooling and loss of appetite (and dilated pupils in cats). NC State Extension rates its poison severity as low. Keep it out of reach of pets and children. Watch for thrips, mealybugs and spider mites (NC State Extension).

About your plant: Every plant is a little different. Size, fullness, leaf count and variegation or colouring vary from plant to plant and change with age and light, so we can't promise a particular height, leaf shape, striping or colour. The size option (6") refers to the pot diameter, container size or listed form (such as a cane arrangement or bush). It does not guarantee an exact plant height, number of canes or leaf count. Photos show typical plants from our greenhouse, not the specific plant you will receive. The shared gallery image shows other Dracaena as inspiration.