Many indoor, outdoor, and weed plants look like corn but aren’t. Differentiating these plants from corn is not easy, and even some experienced farmers still need help. Do you have a garden or yard and have noticed some growth that resembles corn? Here are some plants and their characteristics.
1. Dracaena Fragrans (Massangeana)
Massangeana is a house plant known as, ironically, the corn plant. It looks exactly like corn, but it is not. The plant has a stalk and a thick stem where the leaves sprout. The green foliage is similar to those of a healthy corn stalk. It also has no ears or tassels. Dracaena Fragrans are an ideal plant to grow if you want a green environment in your home or even in the yard. The seeds are easy to plant, provided you water the plant frequently. Just ensure the plant is away from direct sunlight.
At times, the house plant produces beautiful flowers like a corn plant. The blossoming flowers make any garden look spectacular.
2. Plants that Look Like Corn But Isn’t: Grain Sorghum (Milo)
Many outdoor plants resemble corn, but Grain Sorghum is the most commonly found. It perfectly resembles corn aside from the roots, which are more spread out. The plant’s growth habits and characteristics are also similar to corn.
Grain sorghum has a thick stem and a pinnacle head. The green leaves grow on the stem. Occasionally, the plant produces flowers. To some people, sorghum is a great corn alternative. It has the same nutritional benefits as corn and has more protein. Corn, however, has a higher Vitamin A content.
It takes 3-9 days to grow sorghum. All you need is well-drained soil at 60-65F and cool environments at 80F.
3. Johnson Grass (Sorghum helapense)
Johnsongrass is a fast-growing weed plant with a thick stem and green leaves with flat edges. It grows to 6-7 inches and produces flowers in May and October. The plant also has red-brown or black seeds on the roots, like corn.
Unfortunately, Sorghum helapense is a pest in the yard or garden. It is actually restricted in all USDA zones. The weed hinders other plants from healthy growth. So, whenever you spot it in your yard, pull it out immediately. You can also use a herbicide that will not affect other plants in your garden. Other weed grass plants that look like corn but need to be eradicated instantly include; giant reed, quack grass, and crabgrass as well.
4. Millet (Broomcorn)
Millet is a wild outdoor plant that is also known as broomcorn. The plant’s seedlings look exactly like corn. It has a 16-inch long head that produces its seeds. The long, curved stem of the millet plant has thin, green leaves.
There is a wide variety of millet, so you should know the problematic ones. Since millet reduces other plants’ yields and resistance to some herbicides, some farmers consider it a beneficial weed plant. It is a good substitute for sorghum or corn feed for poultry and livestock. Growing millet is relatively straightforward. You should plant the seeds not more than 12mm underground. It also demands bright sunlight, soil pH of 7.8, and sporadic watering. Millet is self-pollinating, and a mature plant takes two to three months to grow.
5. Plants that Look Like Corn But Isn’t: Arundo
Arundo is a special grass that is similar to corn in appearance. It is also a weed from Europe, also known as ornamental grass. The plant has canes and a thick stem where the leaves grow. The main difference is that Arundo has no ears or tassels.
Even though the weed grass has lush green foliage, it can be invasive to other plants in your yard. It grows best in wet soil and can withstand mild winter conditions. Arundo can grow well without water, which usually makes them grow aggressively. The roots of the weed grass live long too.
If you want to grow the plant, you can do it either indoors or outdoors.
Plants that Look Like Corn But Isn’t: Takeaway
There are many plants that look like corn but are not. Some have nutritional benefits, others aesthetic ones, while others are pests. Now you know how to tell them apart, which ones to grow, and which ones to eradicate.