Dracaena fragrans is one of the best-known indoor plants: long, glossy leaves cluster at the top of an upright stem, like a corn plant. It lives indoors at home or in the office in moderate light and only needs regular, not excessive, watering.

Why a corn plant dracaena?

• Easy care, good for beginners.
• Copes with moderate indoor light better than many plants.
• A tall, neat shape that fills a corner without taking much floor space.
• Four heights, from a small corner to a large living room.

Where to put it

In a living room, majlis, indoor entrance or office corner, near a window with filtered light and away from direct sun. Shorter sizes suit the side of a sofa; taller ones make a statement in wide corners.

Care in the Saudi climate

• Light: bright to moderate indirect light; direct sun burns the leaves, and very low light makes them narrower.
• Water: keep the soil slightly moist in spring and summer, water less in winter, and never leave it standing in water.
• Water quality: it's sensitive to fluoride and salts; if tips turn brown, use filtered water and flush the soil.
• Air: dry AC air can brown the tips; keep it away from vents.
• Soil and feeding: well-drained potting mix and a light feed in spring and summer.

Safety

Toxic to cats and dogs (ASPCA). Keep it out of pets' reach.

Sizes

• 50 cm: beside a sofa or on a low stand.
• 80 cm: for room and office corners.
• 1.3 m: a floor plant for living rooms and entrances.
• 1.5 m: a statement piece for wide corners.