Zea mays

This is a hearty plant, many forms of which are generally seen in the vegetable garden. The plant itself has a sturdy upright stem from which arches long, strap-like shiny green leaves. The flower panicle arises from its centre, up to 20 cm in length. It matures to a sheathed fruit - the cob - filled with close clustered fruits, generally coloured yellow but which can be white or black. In the ornamental garden a number of variegated forms can be found and grown. Their beauty is maximized by pruning out the old stems to ensure that the young, bright growth is always a feature. The species and its showy variants can be grown in a tropical effect garden where they keep good company with Cannas.