Ornamental Indian corn is found in many homes as a rustic Thanksgiving decoration. But what is Indian corn?
Another name for Indian corn is flint corn because the kernels are so hard. It is also called calico corn because of its colors. It is one of the oldest varieties of corn and has been grown by indigenous cultures for centuries.
Below you’ll learn its history, edible properties, and some other interesting facts about Indian corn.
What is Indian corn?
Indian corn, Zea Mays var. indurata, is a variety of maize from the same species as sweet corn.
This ornamental corn is often called “Indian corn” because of its use by Native Americans.
It has been widely grown for centuries. An 1879 census report shows a crop of 62 million acres of Indian corn in that year alone!
These rustic ears of corn are not only found in North America. Indian corn has also been grown throughout China, India, and South America.
This type of corn has kernels that come in a wide range of colors including white, blue, and red. The shells are hard, like flint, which gives this type of corn one of its common names.
Uses for Indian corn
Indian corn is used in many ways including:
- Decorations – Using Indian corn in wreaths, porch decor, and on your table gives a rustic look to your home during the holidays.
- Livestock feed – Farmers often use Indian corn to feed cattle, chickens, and goats.
- As a food source – Indian corn is edible, although it is less sweet than yellow corn.
Colors of Indian corn
Sweet corn comes in yellow and white varieties, but ornamental Indian corn has many more colors to choose from. Some varieties produce ears of a single color – white, blue, red, and even black.
However, most ornamental corn varieties are multi-colored.
There is even a type of Indian corn called glass gem corn. It comes in rainbow jewel-like colors and is used in decorating.
Is Indian corn edible?
Although Indian corn is generally used as a decorative item, it can be eaten. You can grow Indian corn from seed, in the same way you grow yellow corn.
Indian corn is harvested by hand when the husks have dried. When it is time to harvest, the ears are dried, mature, and no longer green.
The flavor of Indian corn is not sweet like yellow corn. It has a starchy texture and tastes a bit like hominy.
Indian corn has to be chucked from the corn cob to be used. Once removed, the kernels can be used for popping into popcorn, or ground to make what is known as masa.
The ground masa, or corn meal is then used in a variety of dishes including grits, polenta, tamales, and masa cakes.
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If you enjoyed learning about Indian corn, why not share this post with a friend? Here is a tweet to get you started:
Indian corn is more than fall decor! This colorful ancient maize can also be grown and eaten! Find out more about this indigenous plant on The Gardening Cook. 🌽🍁 #IndianCorn #Maize #FallHarvest #Gardening #HeirloomCrops #FallDecor… Share on XWhat is Indian corn? – Pin this post to remind you
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You can also watch our video on YouTube about decorating with Indian corn!
