Dieffenbachia is a popular, easy-going houseplant with attractive foliage. Just keep it away from pets and children.
Dieffenbachia Plant Care and Growing Tips
Published on Mar. 20, 2025
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How to Grow a Dieffenbachia Plant
- Scientific name: Dieffenbachia seguine
- Common name: Leopard lily or tuftroot
- Light needs: prefers bright indirect light, but tolerates medium and lower-light conditions
- Water needs: water when top few inches of soil are dry
- Soil needs: well-draining soil
- Zones: 10 to 12, or grow indoors as a houseplant
Most people know dieffenbachia as an easy-to-grow, popular houseplant. Creamy yellow or white patterns on the green leaves provide plenty of visual interest.
However if you live in an area without killing frosts and freezes, you can grow it as a perennial tropical plant.
Justin Hancock, a horticulturalist with Costa Farms, says, “Dieffenbachia is a true subtropical and doesn’t hold up to frost, so it’s really only worth it as an outdoor, year-round evergreen landscape plant in frost-free areas (Zones 10 and warmer). In areas that get the occasional frost, you can grow it in a container and move it to a protected spot — such as in a garage — overnight.”
In colder zones, you can enjoy it as an annual in your beds, borders, and containers.
Dwarf varieties top out around 3 feet tall, while others can grow more than 10 feet tall when planted outdoors. Justin says, “Most dieffenbachia stay smaller indoors because there’s less light to fuel growth and the root system is constricted from growing in a container.”
Dieffenbachia Varieties
Foliage varies depending on variety. Most are green and variegated with lighter shades of green or white/cream.
Some of the more common dieffenbachia varieties include:
- Camille: A dwarf variety with creamy leaves edged in medium green
- Camouflage: Large light green leaves are variegated with speckles and patches of dark green
- Cool Beauty: A dwarf variety with green leaves that have creamy centers and fabulous white margins
- Crocodile: A unique large variety that has dark green leaves variegated with medium-green patches and white spots. What makes this variety so unique is the crested midrib, making the underside of the leaf look and feel like crocodile skin.
- Panther: Long, narrow gray-green leaves edged in dark green and spotted with cream
- Tropic Snow: Medium-green leaves variegated with creamy yellow
- White Blizzard: A large variety with dark green leaves heavily variegated with white spots; this variety tends to be a little more resistant to insect attack because the leaves are a little thicker.
Does Dieffenbachia Bloom?
The plants usually don’t bloom indoors. When they do, the flowers look similar to many other aroid plants in the Araceae family — a central spadix and a cup-shaped green spath. They’re reminiscent of calla lily, peace lily or anthurium.
Is Dieffenbachia Toxic to Cats and Dogs
It is very dangerous if ingested, so avoid growing it if you have young children or pets. Calcium oxalate crystals in the plant tissue cause pain and swelling in pets’ mouths. Other symptoms include drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing, respiratory distress and pawing at the mouth. Extreme cases can be fatal, so consult poison control or a veterinarian promptly if you suspect they chewed on or swallowed
Pruning and Propagating Dieffenbachia
Justin says you can prune your dieffenbachia if you wish, but it’s not necessary for healthy growth. “If it starts to get too tall, trimming off the top will cause it to develop sideshoots. As a bonus, you can use the top part you cut off to propagate a new plant.”
He also says you can cut the stems into chunks and grow each chunk into a new plant.
Stick the cutting in moist potting mix and water sparingly until it roots.
Is Dieffenbachia Invasive?
It’s not currently considered invasive in the U.S, but it does have the potential to be labeled as invasive in Hawaii and Florida. Some species are considered invasive in parts of Asia. Consult your local extension office if you have questions about growing this plant.
Repotting Dieffenbachia
This is a good plant for growing in containers. Justin says, “While dieffenbachia holds up well to being repotted, it grows best if repotted as it becomes root bound. In the average home growing conditions, that’s every year or two — but can be more or less often.”
How Often to Water Dieffenbachia
Birds & Blooms reader Margherita Schroettner of Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, writes, “My dieffenbachia plant’s leaves are turning yellow. Does it have anything to do with the amount of water it’s getting?”
Gardening expert Melinda Myers says, “Both overwatering and underwatering, as well as insufficient light reaching all parts of the plant, can cause leaves to yellow. Always water thoroughly when the top few inches of soil are starting to dry. Don’t let the plant sit in excess water that collects in the saucer.
Improve plant growth by placing pebbles in the saucer to elevate the pot above any excess water. Leave the plant in bright indirect light for best growth, and turn the plant regularly to provide sufficient light to all parts of the plant.”
Pests, Problems and Diseases
Dieffenbachia may be attacked by pests if exposed to them. Watch out for mealybugs, scale insects and spider mites.
Try rinsing the bugs off indoor plants first. A strong blast of water dislodges many of the insects. If that doesn’t work, move on to insecticidal soap or organic horticulture oil labeled for houseplants.
If fungus gnats are a problem, make sure you aren’t overwatering the plant.
About the Experts
Justin Hancock is a horticulturist at Costa Farms, one of the largest horticultural growers in the world. He has gardened in a variety of climates throughout the country; as his Costa Farms bio lists, “from northern Minnesota to Miami.” He currently resides in Florida.
Melinda Myers is the official gardening expert for Birds & Blooms. She is a TV/radio host, author and columnist who has written more than 20 gardening books. Melinda earned a master’s degree in horticulture from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sources
- University of Florida IFAS – Dieffenbachia
- ASPCA – Dieffenbachia
- North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Dieffenbachia seguine
- Missouri Botanical Garden – Dieffenbachia seguine
