Dieffenbachia seguine

Dumb Cane gets its common name from the calcium oxalate crystals in its sap, which cause a temporary numbing of the mouth and throat if chewed, a defence mechanism that has done little to dent its popularity as a bold, easy-care foliage plant. Its broad, cream-and-green mottled leaves grow from a thick, cane-like stem that closely resembles a small tropical tree by maturity. Native to the understorey of Caribbean and northern South American forests, it favours warm, humid conditions but adapts readily to average indoor environments. Older canes can be air-layered or cut back hard, since the plant readily resprouts from the base or along the remaining stem.

Native range

Native to the West Indies and northern South America; widely grown as an interior foliage plant across temperate climates.

Classification

Genus

Dieffenbachia

Family

Araceae

Type

Wild

Growth habit

Upright, cane-forming

Morphology

Leaf shape

Broadly ovateEgg-shaped leaves, with the wider end near the base. to oblong

Leaf length

25-45cm

Leaf width

12-20cm

Petiole colour

Pale green, sheathing

Venation

PinnateVeins or lobes arranged like a feather, branching out symmetrically on both sides of a single main central vein.

Texture

Semi-glossy

Variegation

Cream and green mottling/blotching

Growth habit

Upright single or clumping cane