“Tree corn” refers to Tripsacum dactyloides, more commonly known as Eastern Gamagrass or Fakahatchee Grass. This tall, warm-season perennial grass is a wild relative of domesticated maize (Zea mays). Its impressive height gives it a tree-like appearance, earning it the moniker “tree corn,” especially compared to typical garden corn varieties. Unlike annual maize, Eastern Gamagrass is a long-lived plant, capable of surviving for up to 50 years.
Characteristics and Growth Habits
Tripsacum dactyloides grows in robust, clump-forming habits, producing tall, thick, and often purplish stems (culms). These culms can reach heights of 4 to 12 feet, with a diameter of 3 to 5 centimeters at the base. Its broad, linear, flat leaves typically measure 12 to 30 inches long and up to 1.25 inches wide, featuring a prominent midrib. The foliage often arches gracefully, taking on attractive orange-pink hues in the fall.
Its distinctive inflorescence consists of finger-like spikes emerging above the foliage from late spring to early autumn, bearing both male (upper portion) and female (base) flowers on the same structure. Below ground, Eastern Gamagrass develops an extensive, fibrous, and deeply penetrating root system, with rhizomes that can extend up to 4.5 meters deep. This root structure allows it to form dense clumps and contributes to its resilience against environmental stressors.
Eastern Gamagrass thrives in full sun to partial shade. It prefers moist to wet soils, often found naturally along stream banks, in wet prairies, and in roadside ditches. While it adapts to a range of soil types, including clay, loam, and sandy soils, it performs best in moderately well-drained, fertile loamy soils with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5. The species is native to a broad range across North America, extending from the eastern United States, west to Nebraska, and south into Central and South America.
Ecological Role and Uses
Tripsacum dactyloides plays a significant role in native ecosystems, supporting soil health and wildlife. Its dense, deep root system effectively prevents soil erosion and stabilizes soil, especially in riparian zones and areas prone to washouts. This makes it a valuable species for conservation plantings and prairie restoration efforts.
It also provides habitat and food for various wildlife. Deer consume its hard, yellow seeds, and its foliage offers forage for large herbivores like bison and elk. Small mammals, birds, and lizards utilize the dense clumps for cover, and it serves as a larval host plant for several butterfly species, including the Bunchgrass Skipper.
Beyond its ecological benefits, Eastern Gamagrass is a high-quality forage grass for livestock. Its young growth is palatable and nutritious, with crude protein levels often exceeding 15%. It is highly productive during warm months, making it a valuable feed source when cool-season grasses are less productive.
Tripsacum dactyloides is significant in maize breeding programs. It shares a close genetic relationship with domesticated corn (Zea mays), hypothesized as a potential ancestral parent. This wild relative offers valuable genetic diversity, including resistance to diseases, pests (like corn rootworm), and environmental stresses (such as drought and acidic soils). Plant breeders explore ways to transfer these beneficial traits into commercial corn varieties, despite the general sterility of direct maize-gamagrass hybrids. Specialized breeding techniques and “genetic bridges” overcome these barriers, enhancing the resilience and productivity of cultivated maize.
Growing Tree Corn
Cultivating Tripsacum dactyloides is rewarding for those interested in native grasses or forage. Once established, this plant is low-maintenance, but requires careful initial site selection. Choose a location with full sun to partial shade, receiving at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. The soil should be consistently moist to wet, as Eastern Gamagrass naturally thrives in ample water. However, mature plants can tolerate short periods of drought due to their deep roots.
Propagate through seeds or by dividing mature clumps. Seeds typically require cold stratification to break dormancy, either by planting in late autumn/early winter or artificially chilling for 8-10 weeks. When dividing, ensure each new section has a healthy root system and shoots. Once established, the plant is self-sufficient, requiring minimal fertilization; a balanced fertilizer can be applied in early spring and mid-summer if desired. While a robust grower, it can spread through self-seeding and rhizomes, so consider its potential to naturalize.
Common Questions and Misconceptions
Regarding human edibility, Tripsacum dactyloides seeds are not generally considered palatable or desirable like sweet corn. Though historically used by some Native American communities (ground into flour or popped), the seeds are tough, difficult to process, and lack the sweetness and texture of domesticated corn kernels.
Despite its name, Tripsacum dactyloides is a perennial grass, not a true tree. It belongs to the grass family (Poaceae), forming large clumps rather than developing a woody trunk. Its perennial nature means it lives for many years, unlike annual maize which completes its life cycle in a single growing season.
Confusion often arises regarding the genetic relationship between Eastern Gamagrass and domesticated corn. While wild relatives that can hybridize, they are distinct species with different characteristics. Tripsacum dactyloides is primarily valued for its forage qualities and its genetic contribution to maize breeding, whereas Zea mays is cultivated for its edible kernels.