Question
I've had this this 8'tall all green corn plant (no stripes) sorry I don't know the real name, I've had it for 10 yrs. After having a odd smell in the house for a couple days I realize it was a 10"stock of a flower from this plant,never has it bloomed before,I didn't know this plant had blooms.Very,very strong fragrance.Is this rare?what can you tell me about This, Thank you Luke

Answer
Hi Luke,

Your Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans massangeana) flowers are unusual, but not rare. They tend to occur on older plants that have been in the same pot and location for a number of years. Most people tend to move their plants around and repot them too frequently so they never see the flowers that you have.

The flowers have a rather strong aroma that some people find sickening sweet and others enjoy. After a couple of weeks the flowers will gradually wither and die. Then they drop sticky, dry petals on the floor below and make a mess. The flower stems (called spikes) can be cut off entirely at any time - before they open and give off their powerful aroma or after they have finished flowering.

After a Corn Plant has bloomed once, it usually blooms once or twice per year thereafter as long as it remains in the same pot and in the same location.

I have written an article on Corn Plant care that I will email for free to anyone who sends a request to me at my address below.

Please let me know if any of this is unclear or if you have any additional questions.

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Regards,
Will Creed, Interior Landscaper
Horticultural Help, NYC