Zea

( ZEE - uh )

At-A-Glance Information

This genus of flowering plants is a member of the grass family, and common names include Maize, Corn, Teosinte, or Indian Corn. Corn is typically a warm-season annual crop, and is a member of the 'three sisters' polyculture, alongside beans and squash.

Zea Species and Varietals

The genus Zea is a member of the plant family Poaceae, and includes five species. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Zea diploperennis (Diploperennial Teosinte)
This species is a wild relative of corn, and is a perennial plant. Most native populations are considered threatened or endangered, and exist in an area of only a few square miles. These plants are used to improve cultivated corn varieties due to their resistances to disease and pests, their perennial nature, and flood tolerance. They are also being studied for their resistance to parasitic plants which decrease grain yields.

Zea luxurians (Maize de Monte, Florida Teosinte, Guatemalan Teosinte)
This annual species is a true grass and is considered a Teosinte. It is native to Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, and has been introduced in other areas as well. These plants were frequently grown for forage historically, and can hybridize with other species.

Zea mays (Maize, Sweet Corn)
This species was domesticated from wild Teosinte around 9,000 years ago and produce ears of corn kernels that are typically yellow or white. It is widely cultivated throughout the world. There are many cultivars of this species, including but not limited to those listed below:

Zea perennis (Perennial Teosinte)
This perennial corn species is typically used to improve on widely cultivated corn varieties. It is a tropical plant and is not winter-hardy, however, which has led to issues in using its genes to make a perennial form of Maize.