Zea mays

Zea mays (sweetcorn / maize) — one of the world's great crops, domesticated in Mexico around 9,000 years ago from wild teosinte. Grown for sweet, tender cobs in our corn range.

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  • Nasiona ozdobnej kukurydzy Little Jewels (Zea mays) – warzywo jednoroczne Ozdobna kukurydza Little Jewels (Zea mays) – jednoroczne nasiona warzyw od SeedsChoice
    Ornamental Corn Seeds Little Jewels Zea Mays Annual
    22,00 zł

    Little Jewels ornamental corn for decorative displays ornamental corn seeds ‘Little Jewels’ are an annual flower-category favourite for adding bold structure and colour to beds, borders, and seasonal arrangements. This Zea mays ornamental variety is...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Golden Bantam (Zea mays) – organiczne jednoroczne warzywo Kukurydza cukrowa Golden Bantam (Zea mays) – organiczne nasiona jednorocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    Sweet Corn Golden Bantam Seeds Zea Mays Organic Annual
    22,00 zł

    Organiczne nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Golden Bantam do ogrodów Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej golden bantam to organiczny, jednoroczny wybór warzywny dla ogrodników pragnących klasycznej, wczesnej odmiany kukurydzy cukrowej o niezawodnych wynikach w ogrodzie warzywnym. Ta odmiana kukurydzy...
  • Ornamental Corn Little Jewels Decorative Ears seeds (Zea mays) – annual vegetable Ornamental Corn Little Jewels Decorative Ears (Zea mays) – annual vegetable seeds from SeedsChoice
    20%
    Ornamental Corn Seeds Little Jewels Zea Mays Annual Decorative Ears
    16,00 zł20,00 zł

    Little Jewels ornamental corn for colourful displays ornamental corn seeds ‘Little Jewels’ are an annual garden corn variety grown for its striking, multicolour ornamental maize cobs. This decorative type is valued for vibrant colour combinations...
  • Nasiona Sweetcorn Glacial White (Zea mays) – roślina roczna Sweetcorn Glacial White (Zea mays) – nasiona roczne od SeedsChoice
    Sweetcorn Seeds Glacial Zea Mays Annual White Variety
    27,00 zł

    Kukurydza cukrowa Glacial – jasnobiałe ziarna Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Glacial to roczna roślina warzywna dla ogrodników, którzy chcą uzyskać atrakcyjne, jasne kolby o wyraźnie białych ziarnach. Odmiana Glacial jest ceniona za jednolity wygląd oraz satysfakcjonującą,...
  • Nasiona Mini Corn Minipop F1 (Zea mays) – jednoroczne warzywo Mini Corn Minipop F1 (Zea mays) – nasiona jednorocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    Mini Corn Seeds Zea Mays Annual Minipop F1
    22,00 zł

    Mini corn seeds for compact edible cobs Mini corn seeds are an annual vegetable option for gardeners who want small, tender corn cobs that are typically picked before the kernels fully develop. This mini sweetcorn...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Dolce średnio wczesnej (Zea mays) – jednoroczne warzywo Kukurydza cukrowa Dolce średnio wczesna (Zea mays) – nasiona jednorocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    Sweet Corn Seeds Zea Mays Annual Variety Dolce Medium Early
    22,00 zł

    Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej na wczesno-średnie zbiory Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej to pewny wybór dla ogrodników szukających wczesno-średniej odmiany z klasycznymi, pełnowymiarowymi kolbami. Ta odmiana Dolce uprawiana jest jako jednoroczne warzywo i tworzy wysokie, silne rośliny osiągające...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Golden Bantam (Zea mays) – warzywo jednoroczne Kukurydza cukrowa Golden Bantam (Zea mays) – nasiona warzyw jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    Golden Bantam Sweet Corn Seeds Zea Mays Annual
    20,00 zł

    Golden Bantam sweet corn for sunny gardens golden bantam sweet corn seeds are a classic choice for gardeners who want an early sweet corn variety with traditional, old-fashioned flavor. This annual vegetable is grown for...
  • Nasiona popcornu Plomyk (Zea mays) – roślina jednoroczna Popcorn Plomyk (Zea mays) – nasiona roślin jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    18%
    Popcorn Seeds Plomyk Zea Mays Annual Variety
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Odmiana popcornowa do klasycznej uprawy w ogrodzie Nasiona popcornu 'Plomyk' to dedykowana odmiana kukurydzy przeznaczonej do prażenia, uprawiana jako roślina jednoroczna. Ta selekcja Zea mays ceniona jest za twarde, dobrze wypełnione kolby nadające się do...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Glacial White Kernels (Zea mays) – jednoroczne warzywo Kukurydza cukrowa Glacial White Kernels (Zea mays) – nasiona jednorocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    Sweet Corn Seeds Glacial Zea Mays Annual White Kernels
    27,00 zł

    Sweet corn with bright white kernels sweet corn seeds ‘Glacial’ are a distinctive annual vegetable choice for gardeners who want attractive, pale cobs with a clean, light appearance. This white kernel sweetcorn stands out in...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Tasty F1 Yellow (Zea mays) – warzywo jednoroczne Kukurydza cukrowa Tasty F1 Yellow (Zea mays) – nasiona warzyw jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    Sweet Corn Tasty Sweet F1 Yellow Seeds Zea Mays Annual
    24,00 zł

    Słodkie, delikatne zbiory na słonecznych rabatach warzywnych Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej 'Tasty Sweet F1' to jednoroczna odmiana kukurydzy przeznaczona do ogródków warzywnych i przydomowych ogrodów, gdzie zależy nam na jednolitym, pewnym plonie. Ten superslodki mieszaniec F1...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Golden Bantam (Zea mays) – jednoroczne warzywo Kukurydza cukrowa Golden Bantam (Zea mays) – nasiona jednorocznego warzywa od SeedsChoice
    Sweet Corn Seeds Golden Bantam Zea Mays Annual
    22,00 zł

    Classic Golden Bantam sweetcorn for sunny gardens sweet corn seeds golden bantam are a traditional choice for home vegetable plots, valued for reliable plants and well-filled cobs when harvested at the right stage. This is...
  • Nasiona kukurydzy cukrowej Tasty F1 (Zea mays) – warzywo jednoroczne Kukurydza cukrowa Tasty F1 (Zea mays) – nasiona warzyw jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    Sweet Corn Seeds Tasty Sweet F1 Zea Mays Annual
    27,00 zł

    Sweet corn for sunny kitchen gardens sweet corn seeds ‘Tasty Sweet F1’ are a reliable choice for gardeners looking for a modern supersweet corn F1 hybrid with uniform plants and well-filled cobs. This is an...

Zea mays — sweetcorn and maize

Zea mays is the botanical name for maize, or sweetcorn, one of the most important crops on earth and a tall, sun-loving annual grass. In the garden it is grown for sweet, tender cobs, part of our corn range within the wider vegetable collection.

History & origin

Maize was domesticated in southern Mexico around 9,000 years ago from a wild grass called teosinte, through one of the most remarkable feats of selection in human history — teosinte looks almost nothing like a modern corn cob. It became the staple grain of the Americas, grown by Indigenous peoples as one of the “Three Sisters” with beans and squash. After 1492 maize spread around the world to become a global crop second to none.

Its name reflects that journey: Zea is an old Greek word for a cereal grass, and mays comes from mahiz, the name used by the Taíno people of the Caribbean.

Botanical characteristics

A tall grass reaching two metres or more, maize is wind-pollinated: pollen falls from the tassels at the top of the plant onto the silks of the cobs below. This is why sweetcorn is always grown in a block rather than a single row, so that the cobs fill evenly. Modern sweetcorn has been bred for high sugar and tenderness, and is best eaten as fresh as possible, before the sugars turn to starch.

Growing Zea mays from seed

Sweetcorn is frost-tender and needs warmth — sow indoors in spring or direct once the soil is warm, and always plant in a block to ensure good pollination. Give it rich soil, full sun and steady water, especially as the cobs swell. Our vegetable sowing calendar and soil guide set you up for sweet, full cobs.

Ready to grow sweetcorn? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Corn · All Vegetables · Gourds & Squash · Peas & Beans · Fruiting Veg

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Zea mays?
It is the botanical name for maize, or sweetcorn, a tall annual grass.

Where does maize originate?
From southern Mexico, domesticated around 9,000 years ago from a wild grass called teosinte.

Why grow sweetcorn in a block?
It is wind-pollinated, so a block lets pollen reach the cobs and fill them evenly.

What does the name mean?
Zea is a Greek word for a cereal grass and mays comes from the Taíno name “mahiz.”

How do I grow it?
Sow in warmth, plant in a block, and give it rich soil, full sun and steady water.