Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans) Blooming: Fragrant Flowers, Sap & Basal Sprout

Your 8-foot corn plant flowering after 3 years signals excellent health. The intensely fragrant (gardenia-like) blooms produce sticky nectar (sap) to attract pollinators—this is normal. A 15″ basal sprout (offset) and rapid top growth are also typical for a thriving, root-bound specimen.

What to Expect & Do

• Enjoy the bloom: Flowers last 1–3 weeks. Sap is sticky but harmless; wipe surfaces if needed.
• Don't repot: Corn plants prefer being root-bound. The current pot is fine.
• Basal sprout: Leave it to create a multi-stem plant, or remove and root separately (use rooting hormone, moist mix).
• Post-bloom pruning (optional): In early spring (Mar–Apr), cut canes back to desired height. New shoots emerge below cuts. Root cuttings for new plants.
• Care continues: Bright indirect light, water when top 1–2″ dry, fertilize monthly (spring–fall).

Propagation Bonus

If you want more plants, spring pruning yields 12–36″ cane sections that root easily in moist perlite/soil with rooting hormone. Each becomes a new corn plant.

Congratulations—your care has produced a spectacular, mature specimen!