Dana

Dieffenbachia seguine 'Tropic Snow'

Dumb cane

• 
  Bright light
• 
  Easy care

• Dana likes...
  • 
    Light watering

    Check her weekly and if the top two inches of soil feel dry it’s time for a drink. She’s less thirsty in winter.

  • 
    Medium light

    She likes a good amount of light throughout the day, but ideally not direct sunlight (it burns her).

  • 
    Humidity

    She absorbs a lot of moisture from the air. A nice regular misting will help her leaves stay fresh and healthy.

• Quick facts

  Botanical name

  Dieffenbachia Seguine

  Nickname

  Tropic snow; Dumb cane; Dumbcane; Mother-in-law’s tongue; Leopard lily

  Plant type

  Evergreen perennial / indoor

  Air purifying

  Yes

  Plant height (including pot)

  70-80cm

  Pet/baby safe

  Mildly toxic to pets and people

  Nursery pot size

  24cm

• About dumb canes

  Everything about the dumb cane, or dieffenbachia, is dramatic. Native to the tropics of Central and South America, it has huge variegated leaves. Even the way it grows is showy, new leaves curling up from the central stem before they unfurl.

  The diefenbacchia’s common name, dumb cane, comes from the fact that the liquid that drips from its leaves can cause a temporary loss of speech if ingested. For that reason this plant is not recommended for homes with small children. This is a grown up plant for grown up homes.

  It’s used to growing in humid conditions in dappled forests, so it loves lots of moisture in the air and a lot of bright, indirect light. It will also appreciate a feed with liquid fertiliser once per month in spring and summer. With the right conditions, it will grow quickly to become a really impressive houseplant.

  Did you know?

  The dumb cane was given its scientific name, dieffenbachia, in the 1800s by Heinrich Wilhelm Scott, director of the Viennese Botanical Gardens, to honour his head gardener, Joseph Dieffenbach.