Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: corn plant, cornstalk dracaena, fragrant dracaena

Family: Asparagaceae subfam. Nolinoideae

Distribution: Tropical Africa

Life form: Evergreen shrub / sub-shrub

Usage: Horticultural

Comments: This plant grows wild throughout tropical Africa, from Sudan south to Mozambique, west to Côte d'Ivoire and southwest to Angola, growing in upland regions at 600–2,250 m and commonly used as a hedge plant.
The Chagga people of Tanzania regard this species as holy, known there are as "masale".
Globally it is a very popular houseplant and is introduced and even invasive in many tropical and subtropical areas. It's able to tolerate a wide range of conditions from full light to low light and is very tolerant of neglect, which is why it's often the only houseplant still alive in a dusty neglected corner of offices and waiting rooms. There are multiple cultivars, some with variegated foliage. 'Massangeana', also commonly denominated "Mass Cane", has a bright yellow central stripe on the foliage. 'Compacta' is more compact and suitable for indoor cultivation. Other popular cultivars include 'Janet Craig', 'Lemon Lime', and 'Warneckei' ('Warneckii'), which are often sold under the synonym D. deremensis.