Sweet corn Zea mays var. saccharata
Sweet corn (Zea mays var. saccharata) is an annual vegetable in the Poaceae family. It grows 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) tall and 30–50 cm (12–20 in) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 5 °C (41 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.
Plan Sweet corn in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.
Sweet corn at a glance
| Type | Annual vegetable |
|---|---|
| Family | Poaceae |
| Mature height | 1.5–2.5 m (4.9–8.2 ft) |
| Mature spread | 30–50 cm (12–20 in) |
| Spacing | 30 cm (12 in) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 7 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance low, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Cold hardiness | About 5 °C (41 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 11) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 34 °C (93 °F) |
| Flowering | about 8–10 weeks after planting, for 1–2 weeks |
| Days to maturity | About 90 days from planting |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | None |
| Edible | Yes: kernels |
| Common in gardens of | 🇺🇸 United States, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇨🇳 China, 🇯🇵 Japan, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇿🇦 South Africa, 🇧🇷 Brazil, 🇵🇪 Peru, 🇲🇽 Mexico, 🇦🇺 Australia, 🇰🇪 Kenya |
Is Sweet corn toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
Sweet corn is non-toxic; cobs can cause blockage if swallowed by pets.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Sweet corn
Good neighbours
- good With Legumes (pea family): "Three sisters": climbing beans use corn as a support and fix nitrogen; the benefit to the corn is modest but real in low-input soils. Evidence C
- good With Pumpkin: "Three sisters": squash leaves shade the soil between corn, reducing weeds and evaporation. Evidence C
See Sweet corn in a botanical garden
It grows in this sample garden, which you can walk through in 3D:
- Desert Botanical Garden (10 plants)
Questions about Sweet corn
- How far apart should I plant Sweet corn?
- About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–50 cm (12–20 in).
- Does Sweet corn need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 7 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Sweet corn need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is low and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Sweet corn?
- It tolerates about 5 °C (41 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 11. As an annual it is usually planted out after the last frost.
- When does Sweet corn flower?
- About 8–10 weeks after planting, for 1–2 weeks.
- Is Sweet corn poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. Sweet corn is non-toxic; cobs can cause blockage if swallowed by pets.
- What grows well with Sweet corn?
- "Three sisters": climbing beans use corn as a support and fix nitrogen; the benefit to the corn is modest but real in low-input soils. "Three sisters": squash leaves shade the soil between corn, reducing weeds and evaporation.
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade C (C: plausible, mixed evidence).
- ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA
- FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper 56 — Crop Evapotranspiration, FAO
- RHS Plant Finder, Royal Horticultural Society
- University extension gardening guides (general), Various land-grant university extensions
Notes and assumptions
- Typical garden-cultivar values; varieties differ.
- Wind pollinated; plant in blocks, not single rows.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Fountain grass Pennisetum alopecuroides
- Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus
- Clumping bamboo Fargesia murielae
- Maiden grass (miscanthus) Miscanthus sinensis
- Golden bamboo Phyllostachys aurea
- Switchgrass Panicum virgatum
- Little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium
- Blue fescue Festuca glauca