Plant profile
Dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
Also known as Dumb cane, Dumbcane, Leopard lily.
Dieffenbachia is a tropical foliage plant with broad patterned leaves. It grows well indoors in bright filtered light and outdoors in warm shaded gardens.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical
- Lifecycle
- Evergreen tropical foliage perennial
- Light
- Part shade, Shade
- Mature size
- Usually 0.6–2 m high indoors or in gardens, depending on cultivar
- Spacing
- About 60–90 cm apart outdoors
- Growth habit
- Cane-forming tropical foliage plant with broad variegated leaves
- Native range
- Caribbean to tropical South America
- Natural habitat
- Wet tropical forest, usually in humid shaded understorey.
When to plant
Tropical
February–May, September–November
Subtropical
March–May, September–November
Temperate
September–November
Mediterranean
September–November
Tropical and subtropical: plant or repot during warm active growth.
Planting
Plant into rich, free-draining soil or potting mix and keep the crown above saturated soil. Outdoors, choose a sheltered shaded position.
Position and light
Bright filtered light indoors or part shade outdoors. Direct hot sun can scorch the leaves, while very low light causes leggy growth and faded variegation.
Soil
Rich, free-draining potting mix or garden soil with organic matter.
Watering
Water when the upper mix begins to dry. Reduce watering in cool weather and never leave pots sitting in water, since the fleshy stems and roots rot quickly in constantly saturated mix.
Feeding
Use a light balanced feed during warm active growth.
Pruning
Cut bare canes back above a node to encourage new shoots. Wear gloves and wash tools after pruning.
Propagation
Cane sections, tip cuttings and offsets root readily in warm conditions.
Common problems
Spider mites, mealybugs, scale and root rot can occur. Cold weather quickly damages the leaves, often leaving dark, water-soaked blotches behind.
Safety notes
Highly irritating if chewed. Calcium oxalate crystals can cause severe mouth and throat pain and swelling; sap also irritates skin and eyes. Keep away from pets and children.
Worth knowing
The common name 'dumb cane' refers to the temporary loss of speech that can follow chewing the sap-filled stems, caused by calcium oxalate crystals irritating the mouth and throat. Many named cultivars are selected forms of Dieffenbachia seguine, and leaf variegation pattern varies considerably between them. Older canes naturally lose their lower leaves over time, leaving bare stems that can be cut back and reshaped rather than discarded.
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