Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) History / Plant Stories

Welcome to HealthyHousePlants.com, where we teach you all about gardening indoors! If you’d like to support my show and get help growing your houseplants, check out my Patreon below. Today, we have an addition to my plant history videos with the history of Dieffenbachia, also known as dumb cane. If you’ve ever wondered why the plant is called dumb cane, I’m going to tell you, along with some not-so-nice history about how the plant has been used historically.

First of all, Dieffenbachia gets its genus name from J.F. Dieffenbach, who lived from 1790 to 1863. He was a horticulturist who was in charge of the gardens of the Royal Palace of Schönbrunn in Vienna in the 1830s. As I’ve mentioned in other plant history videos, plants often get their names from people in the horticultural field. This includes people who find them. It’s believed that Dieffenbach brought the Dieffenbachia to Austria from Brazil, making the plant one of the first to come to Europe during what were known as the Austrian-Brazilian plant expeditions that occurred from 1817 to 1835.

Dieffenbachia is native to South America and the West Indies. In its native habitat, the plant can grow to 10 feet tall outdoors, but usually stays smaller indoors. However, I’ve had Dieffenbachias reach 4 to 5 feet tall in my indoor garden. As you can see, the plants have eye-catching leaves that come in a variety of colorations and patterns depending on the variety.

Dieffenbachia gets its nickname “dumb cane” because of the sap in its leaves that contains oxalic crystals, which are like fiberglass. That sap will painfully scratch and burn the mouth and throat, and may even temporarily swell up the throat and paralyze the vocal cords—hence the term “dumb,” referring to being unable to speak. It is one of the more toxic houseplants and should be kept out of reach of children and pets. If ingested, the plant can also harm the stomach. However, given how painful it is to chew on, most animals or people don’t get that far as to swallow it.

However, as you recall, I mentioned a not-so-nice history for Dieffenbachia. Dumb cane is said to have been used by slave owners in the Caribbean as a punishment to inflict pain. Ouch! Of course, none of this is the plant’s fault—it’s a human problem, obviously—but it’s not so nice to think of such a beautiful plant being used for such an ugly purpose.

On a somewhat brighter note, in Brazil, it is believed that Dieffenbachia protects against the evil eye and negative energy. Despite its somewhat dark past, today Dieffenbachia is a popular houseplant for its bright, striking leaves that can get quite large on more mature plants. There are approximately 30 different Dieffenbachia varieties. Most of the cultivars have been bred to create large leaves or more vibrant variegation. Some popular cultivars include ‘Camille,’ ‘Exotica,’ ‘Albo,’ ‘Hilo,’ ‘Paradise,’ ‘Snow Queen,’ ‘Tiki,’ ‘Tropic Snow,’ and ‘Rudolph Roehrs.’ Rudolph Roehrs is named after Rudolph Roehrs, a horticulturist who belonged to many organizations, including the New York Botanic Society and the Society of American Florists and Ornamental Horticulturists.

So there you go—some interesting information and background history about this beautiful plant. You can now share some of that interesting history with anyone who may come to your indoor garden and say what a lovely plant it is.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane)

What is Dieffenbachia and why is it called “dumb cane”?

Dieffenbachia, also known as dumb cane, is a popular houseplant known for its striking leaves. The plant gets its nickname “dumb cane” because its sap contains oxalic crystals, which can cause pain, swelling, and temporary paralysis of the vocal cords if ingested, making it difficult to speak.

Where does the name Dieffenbachia come from?

Dieffenbachia gets its genus name from J.F. Dieffenbach, a horticulturist who lived from 1790 to 1863. He was responsible for the gardens of the Royal Palace of Schönbrunn in Vienna in the 1830s and is believed to have introduced Dieffenbachia to Austria from Brazil.

Where is Dieffenbachia native to?

Dieffenbachia is native to South America and the West Indies. In its native habitat, the plant can grow up to 10 feet tall outdoors, but it usually stays smaller indoors.

What are the different varieties of Dieffenbachia?

There are approximately 30 different Dieffenbachia varieties, with popular cultivars including ‘Camille,’ ‘Exotica,’ ‘Albo,’ ‘Hilo,’ ‘Paradise,’ ‘Snow Queen,’ ‘Tiki,’ ‘Tropic Snow,’ and ‘Rudolph Roehrs.’

Is Dieffenbachia toxic?

Yes, Dieffenbachia is toxic. The sap in its leaves contains oxalic crystals that can cause painful irritation if ingested. It is important to keep the plant out of reach of children and pets.

How has Dieffenbachia been used historically?

Dieffenbachia has a dark history, as it is said to have been used by slave owners in the Caribbean as a punishment to inflict pain. However, in Brazil, the plant is also believed to protect against the evil eye and negative energy.

Why is Dieffenbachia a popular houseplant today?

Despite its toxic properties and dark history, Dieffenbachia is a popular houseplant due to its bright, striking leaves that can grow quite large on mature plants. It is valued for its aesthetic appeal in indoor gardens.

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