Maize (Corn)

grain · ancient crop · agriculture

Ancient domestication. Indigenous peoples in southern Mexico started growing maize from a wild plant called teosinte about 9,000 years ago. This amazing transformation made one of the world's most important crops.

How it grows. Maize is a tall, sturdy grass with male flowers called tassels at the top that make pollen, and female flowers called ears lower down. The ears produce the kernels (seeds) we eat.

Rainbow of colors. While modern corn is usually yellow or white, maize comes in many other colors depending on the variety. Some varieties produce red, purple, blue, or even striped kernels.

Three Sisters farming. Native Americans cleverly planted maize alongside beans and squashes, a method called the Three Sisters polyculture. These three crops were the main staples that fed Native American communities for centuries.