Corn Plant Tree Leaves Turning Yellow. The corn plant, or dracaena fragrans, is so named because it resembles a shoot of corn in appearance. When plants are deficient in nitrogen, the older leaves turn yellowish and the plant doesn't produce many new leaves.
One of the most common causes of yellowing leaves is moisture stress. The scientific name for the corn plant is dracaena fragrans, which is the true corn plant in its native and original form, with solid dark green leaves. Even the most novice of gardeners knows that indoor plant leaves turning yellow is not a good sign.
The plant moves nitrogen up the stalk so a nitrogen deficiency manifests itself as corn leaves turning yellow at the base of the plant.
Iron deficiencies can be due to soil that's too alkaline, but nutritional deficiencies aren't always caused by problems with the soil. This happens quite often, but providing new leaves are forming as. With just the right amount of fuel, your plant will look lush again in no time. A healthy corn plant should, during its life, maintain bright green foliage.