Dieffenbachia seguine
This evergreen tropical houseplant native to tropical South America features large green, white, and cream variegated leaves on cane-like stems, tolerates bright indirect light, prefers evenly moist, well-draining soil, purifies indoor air, and carries a toxic sap that can irritate skin and numb the mouth.
Common Names
Dumb Cane, Dumbcane, Dumb Cane Plant, Tuftroot, Gold Dieffenbachia
Summary
Dieffenbachia seguine, commonly called the Dumb Cane, is a tropical evergreen houseplant native to Central and South America and Caribbean islands. It forms an erect, cane-like stem with large oval to oblong leaves green with patches or blotches of cream or white, creating a striking variegated display; indoors, plants are typically compact, up to about 1 meter tall.
It prefers bright indirect light, warm temperatures around 18–29°C, and high humidity, with soil kept evenly moist and the top inch drying between waterings in well-draining loamy or peat-based mixes. Propagation is possible by stem cuttings or air layering, and fertilization with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4–6 weeks during the growing season supports growth. The sap is toxic if ingested, so gloves are recommended and pets and children should be kept away; the plant is valued as decorative indoor foliage and is noted for air-purifying properties, including removing formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene.
Lifecycle
Perennial, Annual in colder zones
Height
3-10 feet
Spread
24-36 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 10-12
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Partial Sun.
Soil Type
Well-draining loamy, peat-rich potting soil that retains some moisture
Soil Drainage
Well-drained soil that remains moist but not soggy
Soil pH
5.5–6.5, slightly acidic
Bloom Color
White
Bloom Time
Spring and Summer, flowering is rare in cultivation
Foliage Color
Green with variegation in cream, white, and yellow
Fall Foliage Color
Cream, white, and yellow patches
Leaf Lifecycle
Evergreen broadleaf
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter
Propagation Methods
Cuttings, Division, Layering
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- (Jacq.) Schott
- Publication
- Melet. Bot. : 20 (1832)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Alismatales
- Family
- Araceae
- Genus
- Dieffenbachia
Synonyms
Arum crudele Arum regnium Arum seguine Arum seguinum Seguinum maculatum Spathiphyllum pictum Caladium maculatum Caladium seguine Caladium seguine var. maculatum Dieffenbachia picta var. barraquiniana Dieffenbachia picta f. brasiliensis Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. barraquiniana Dieffenbachia seguine f. conspurcata Dieffenbachia seguine var. decora Dieffenbachia seguine f. lineata Dieffenbachia seguine var. liturata Dieffenbachia seguine f. ventenatiana Dieffenbachia picta f. mirabilis Dieffenbachia seguine f. decora Dieffenbachia brasiliensis Dieffenbachia cognata Dieffenbachia consobrina Dieffenbachia conspurcata Dieffenbachia decora Dieffenbachia gigantea Dieffenbachia grandis Dieffenbachia illustris Dieffenbachia irrorata Dieffenbachia jenmanii Dieffenbachia lingulata Dieffenbachia liturata Dieffenbachia maculata Dieffenbachia seguine var. viridis Dieffenbachia magnifica Dieffenbachia mirabilis Dieffenbachia neglecta Dieffenbachia picta Dieffenbachia picta var. angustior Dieffenbachia picta var. latior Dieffenbachia picturata Dieffenbachia poeppigii Dieffenbachia robusta Dieffenbachia seguine f. irrorata Dieffenbachia seguine var. lineata Dieffenbachia seguine var. lingulata Dieffenbachia seguine f. nobilis Dieffenbachia seguine var. robusta Dieffenbachia seguine var. ventenatiana Dieffenbachia seguine f. viridis Dieffenbachia ventenatiana Dieffenbachia verschaffeltii Dieffenbachia wallisii Caladium seguinum Dieffenbachia membranulifera Dieffenbachia chelsonii Dieffenbachia regina Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. wallisii Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. viridis Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. decora Dieffenbachia seguine f. barraquiniana Dieffenbachia picta subvar. mirabilis Dieffenbachia picta subvar. angustifolia Dieffenbachia picta subvar. gigantea Dieffenbachia picta subvar. jenmannii Dieffenbachia picta subvar. magnifica Dieffenbachia picta subvar. memoria Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. nobilis Dieffenbachia seguine var. maculata Dieffenbachia nitida Dieffenbachia amabilis Dieffenbachia lanceola Dieffenbachia insignis Dieffenbachia marmorata Dieffenbachia vittata Dieffenbachia velutina Dieffenbachia carderi Dieffenbachia imperator Dieffenbachia maculosa Dieffenbachia delecta Arum regnium Dieffenbachia picta var. typica Dieffenbachia amazonica Dieffenbachia gigantea Dieffenbachia illustris Dieffenbachia nobilis Dieffenbachia verschaffeltii Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. irrorata Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. lingulata Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. liturata Dieffenbachia amoena Dieffenbachia triumphans Dieffenbachia seguine var. minor Dieffenbachia seguine var. nobilis Dieffenbachia barraquiniana Dieffenbachia gollmeriana Dieffenbachia lineata Dieffenbachia nobilis Dieffenbachia plumieri Dieffenbachia seguine f. liturata Dieffenbachia variegata Dieffenbachia eburnea Dieffenbachia picta subvar. picturata Dieffenbachia aureovariegata Dieffenbachia rex Dieffenbachia majestica Dieffenbachia princeps Dieffenbachia grandis Spathiphyllum pictum Dieffenbachia seguine subvar. lineata