VegetableCorn
Rainbow (Multicolors) Corn
Rainbow Corn is an open-pollinated heirloom flint corn that transforms the late summer garden into a palette of warm colors. Each ear produces kernels in a stunning array of hues, creating the multicolored cobs that give this variety its name. Growing 72 to 84 inches tall, it reaches maturity in 70 to 79 days and thrives across hardiness zones 2 through 13, making it adaptable to nearly every North American climate. Originally preserved as an ornamental and livestock feed variety, Rainbow Corn has become a favorite for gardeners who want to harvest something both visually striking and functionally useful.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
84 in
Height
TypeUpright
Spacing
10
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
84in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
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Highlights
The kernels arrive in a kaleidoscope of colors that seems almost too vibrant to be real, making every ear a small work of art. This is a flint corn, which means the hard, starchy kernels dry beautifully for decoration, grinding, or feeding livestock, extending its usefulness well beyond the growing season. It tolerates heat and drought-prone conditions without fussing, thriving in the kind of hot, dry summers that stress other corn varieties. The fact that it's both ornamental and practical, heirloom and non-GMO, gives it quiet appeal for gardeners who want substance behind the beauty.
Common Uses
Rainbow Corn serves dual purposes that make it valuable in a way many vegetables are not. The dried ears and kernels become striking fall and winter decorations, bringing color indoors after harvest. The hard flint kernels can be ground into cornmeal or polenta for cooking, and the variety is well-suited to livestock feed, making it practical for homesteaders and small-scale farmers. Some gardeners simply grow it to save seed, appreciating its open-pollinated, heirloom nature in seed-saving networks.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Direct Sow
Sow seeds directly into the garden after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Plant in blocks or hills rather than single rows to ensure good pollination, as corn is wind-pollinated.
Harvesting
Rainbow Corn is ready to harvest when the ears have fully filled out and the husks begin to dry and brown, typically 70 to 79 days after planting. For ornamental or storage use, leave ears on the stalk until the husks are papery and the kernels are hard and dry. You can harvest by hand, gripping the ear firmly and twisting it downward and away from the stalk. Once harvested, allow ears to cure in a warm, dry location with good air circulation for several weeks before storing or using for decoration.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Zea mays
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Zea
Growth Habit
Upright
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)VI (I)CAN (I)