Corn

Zea mays L.

Origin: Mexico

Warm-season annual
Wind-pollinated

Pet & Human Safety

People: No hazard foundPets: Not on the ASPCA lists as we read them

Human edibility

Edible

Edible parts

fruit (kernels)

Hazardous parts

Not yet checked.

Preparation

NC State lists the fruit as edible and gives no preparation step.

Hazard type

Not yet checked.

Hazard route

not applicable

How complete this information is

The safety information on this page is partial. Where a source covers a point, it is shown; where none does, the page says so.

Toxic to pets

No ASPCA entry found.

No verdict of toxic or non-toxic is given, since no source specific to Zea mays was found. Corn cobs/husks are a well-known choking and gastrointestinal-obstruction hazard for dogs (a mechanical risk, not a toxicity finding): that mechanical-obstruction risk was not independently sourced and is not yet confirmed, not asserted as a citation-backed fact.

Patent / trademark

not applicable

Look-alike warning

Could be mistaken for ASPCA's 'Corn Plant' (Dracaena fragrans, PlotAndPetal's separate entry), a completely different, toxic houseplant. To tell them apart: This is the food crop, Zea mays, a grass grown outdoors for grain; Dracaena fragrans is a houseplant with strap-like leaves grown for foliage.. Dracaena fragrans is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses (saponins): don't let that verdict apply to food corn, which has no ASPCA page of its own under any common name.

Poison control

If someone has collapsed, cannot be woken, is having a seizure or has trouble breathing, call 911 now. For any other possible poisoning, call Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222.

Emergency number source: U.S. federal law (47 U.S.C. § 251(e)(3)), read 2026-10-07.

Naturalist Lore

Historical Background & Breeding Lore

The history of this plant and its name, and how it was bred, where we have them.

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Care

Hardiness zones: Warm-season annual everywhere.
Water needs: high ample and consistent; must have ample nitrogen and water at all times, watered at the soil rather than overhead to protect pollination
Mature size: 5-8 ft tall, 1-2 ft wide; erect, rapid-growing annual.
Family: Poaceae (grass family)

Soil & Drainage

Pruning & Flush Rhythm

Feeding Schedule

How to prepare the soil, when and what to feed, and how and when to prune where that applies.

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