Here’s a list of plants that look like corn so much, you will be hard-pressed to tell any difference between them!
This article uncovers a variety of plants that not only mimic the appearance of corn, but also look eye-catching with their tall stalks of lush, green leaves, making them a great addition in garden and pots!
Plants that Look Like Corn
1. Sorghum
Botanical Name: Sorghum bicolor
Sorghum is a type of cereal crop, cultivated for animal feed. Its visual similarity to corn comes from its tall growth habit, and kind of similar foliage.
2. Giant Reed
Botanical Name: Arundo donax
The giant reed has a towering height and dense clumps. Superficially, it looks like corn from a distance, but notice closely and the absence of ears is prominent!
3. Johnson Grass
Botanical Name: Sorghum halepense
This plant looks like a young corn during its initial growth staged. Its narrower, lance-like leaves lack the distinctive ears and kernels.
4. Sugar Cane
Botanical Name: Saccharum officinarum
The upright growth pattern of sugar cane and segmented stalks resemble corn visually. However, it does not produce ears and kernels, typical of corn.
5. Bamboo
Botanical Name: Various genera
Certain bamboo species have a resemblance to the corn’s thick upright culms and clumping habit. You can differentiate the plant easily, though!
6. Pampas Grass
Botanical Name: Cortaderia selloana
With its towering plumes and clump-forming growth, pampas grass vaguely resembles corn from a distance. However, the absence of broad, flat blades distinguishes it.
7. Wild Rice
Botanical Name: Zizania spp.
Wild rice produces elongated seed heads, reminiscent of corn ears. However, its smaller elongated seeds and less dense kernels makes it stand out.
8. Millet
Botanical Name: Various genera
Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses grown as cereal crops, or animal forage. Some millets resemble corn, but lack its characteristic ears and kernels.
9. Teosinte
Botanical Name: Zea spp.
Teosinte is the wild ancestor of modern corn, and shares many similarities like growth habit and ear structure. Its fewer kernels and more branched stems gives it away!
10. Foxtail Grass
Botanical Name: Setaria spp.
Foxtail often resemble young corn plants in their upright growth. However, they lack the ears and kernels that define mature corn plants.
11. Pearl Millet
Botanical Name: Pennisetum glaucum
Pearl millet, adapted to arid climates, shares the tall stature and upright growth of corn. However, its compact seed heads and lack of prominent ears are the giveaways!
12. Quinoa
Botanical Name: Chenopodium quinoa
Quinoa may look like young corn plants in its upright growth habit, but lacks the characteristic ears and kernels. It produces clusters of small seeds instead.
