Large leaves splashed with creamy white, few demands and plenty of tropical flair. But careful: all parts of the plant are toxic. For homes without small children and nibbling pets.

What it does for you

The dieffenbachia brings tropical flair into your room: large, glossy leaves patterned in cream, white or yellow depending on the variety¹. It's considered an easy houseplant that puts up with a lot², and it copes with darker corners too – though it grows more slowly there³. It doesn't measurably clean the air: for that you'd need ten to a thousand plants per square metre⁴.

Origin & history

In the wild, the dieffenbachia grows in the Caribbean and tropical South America, from Cuba to Bolivia and Brazil^7,8, on the shady forest floor⁹. In shops it's often sold as D. maculata, D. picta or D. amoena – botanically they all belong to Dieffenbachia seguine¹.

It's named after Dieffenbach, who ran the palace gardens in Vienna in the 1830s¹. The name "dumb cane" comes from the fact that its sap can literally leave you speechless². It was even misused to punish enslaved people⁹.

Caution

All parts are full of needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals². Ratings of how severe a poisoning is differ – the BfR expects a moderate course, NC State rates it high^5,1 – so treat it as highly toxic. Biting into it causes burning and swelling of the lips, tongue and throat, making speaking and swallowing hard; sap in the eye can damage the cornea¹. If the throat swells, get medical help immediately². Cats and dogs drool, vomit and have trouble swallowing¹⁰. It's not a plant for homes with small children or pets²; wear gloves when cutting⁸. In an emergency: remove any remains from the mouth, give water or tea to drink, no milk, don't induce vomiting, call a poison control centre⁶.

Care

Light. Bright without direct sun, which yellows or bleaches the leaves^3,1. In winter a little sun is fine². In low light it gets leggy, loses variegation and its lower leaves^8,3.

Water. Water thoroughly, then not again until the top 2–3 centimetres are dry² – as a rule of thumb about once a week in summer. In winter just keep it slightly moist¹¹. Constantly wet soil makes the lower leaves turn yellow and the stem rot³.

Temperature & humidity. 18–24 °C is ideal³, not below 15 °C – a safe margin, since below about 10–13 °C it gets damaged^3,8. It responds to draughts by dropping leaves³. In dry air, neighbouring plants or a tray of damp gravel help³.

Soil, pot & repotting. Loose, free-draining houseplant soil, ideally with perlite³. Repot in early spring² – as a rule of thumb every two to three years¹².

Feeding. From early spring to early autumn every two to four weeks at half strength².

Extras

Over the years the lower leaves drop and a stem becomes visible². Flowers are rare indoors and inconspicuous³. Popular varieties: 'Camille' with cream-yellow leaves and a green edge, 'Tropic Snow' gets by with less light².