Corn Plant
Dracaena fragrans · Asparagaceae
How it looks
Corn plant is a type of dracaena with long, broad, sword-shaped leaves clustered at the top of a thick stem. Varieties with a yellow or light-green stripe down the center of each leaf are common, and the foliage resembles corn leaves. It grows 20 in to 6.5 ft (50 cm–2 m) tall and is common in homes and offices.
Caution — dilated pupils and lethargy
Saponins in the leaves cause stomach upset along with nervous-system signs like dilated pupils, depression, and lethargy. Behavior changes tend to stand out more than with other caution-level plants.
Guide for parents
Corn plant is a fixture in offices and living rooms. Its long, drooping leaves often sit right where a cat can chew on them. If your cat seems unusually lethargic or is off their food, check the leaves for bite marks. Call your vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours. The best fix is moving the plant to a shelf out of reach.
If ingested
Contact your nearest vet immediately
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, depression, anorexia, dilated pupils
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Call your vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
Details
- Scientific name
- Dracaena fragrans
- Common name
- Corn Plant
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Toxic parts
- All parts
- Compounds
- Saponins
- Onset
- Right away to within 2 hours of ingestion
- Symptoms
- Vomiting, depression, anorexia, dilated pupils
- Action
- Rinse the mouth with water and monitor. Call your vet if symptoms last more than 12 hours.
- Source
- ASPCA
Related plants
Same plant family· Asparagaceae
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