Nitrogen Fixing Corn (Zea mays)

These unnamed, perennial heirloom landrace varieties of corn (maize) are similiar to those grown by the indigenous people of Central America many centuries ago.  They don't require nitrogen fertilizers because they have the ability to fix nitrogen from the air by bacterial symbiosis.  Some varieties can reach a height of five meters under ideal growing conditions.

Availability

We previously offered seeds from southern Mexico and several plants grown at our Discovery Harbour, Hawai`i facility. In 2024 we are also offering seeds from plants grown from our seeds at a research partner's farm site in Hilo.  The seeds from Discovery Harbour and Hilo are the first nitrogen fixing corn seeds known to have been produced in Hawai`i.  They are the products of open pollination and most of the seed lots have not been tested for germination rates. Our inventories of these are small and likely to be depleted quickly.

Seeds of all nitrogen fixing corn varieties are scarce, costly and primarily intended for experimentation and educational activities.  We can offer only small amounts of them to each customer.  Large orders may be refused to conserve supplies and maximize the number of customers that can receive seeds. With heavy demand for the seeds continuing in 2024 our inventories may be rapidly depleated.  We are attempting to replenish our supplies.  If you do not see inventory available please recheck our store often or contact us to reserve seeds. We will notify you when they become available.

Seed Processing and Storage

We inspect all of these seeds when they are received from our suppliers and then treat them by drying and freezing to control insect pests and maintain viability in storage.  They are shipped with silica gel packets to reduce moisture uptake by the seeds.  If you will not be planting the seeds on receipt we recommend placing the seeds in their original packing with the gel in an outer zip seal bag and then refrigerate or freeze them until they are planted.

International Orders

These seeds can no longer be ordered directly through this online store for delivery to customers outside the United States. The regulations governing exports of these seeds are complex and vary widely among the receiving countries.  Most countries now require inspection of the seeds and issuance of a Phytosanitary Certificate (PC) by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for entry.  The fee charged by the USDA for these services is $61.00 and must be prepaid by the customer when an order is placed.  Other countries may have lesser or no restrictions.

Because of concerns about the potential importation of seeds with specific pests or diseases affecting corn, many countries also have additional restrictions on importing corn seeds from areas where these pests or diseases may be present.  Southern Mexico may be a prohibited origin for entry into the EU and several other countries.

If you would like to order these seeds for international delivery please contact us first so that we can determine what the entry requirements and associated costs are before you place the order.

Assist With Our Research

Nitrogen fixing corn is an experimental crop and we encourage all purchasers of these seeds to let us know how they performed. Information provided by customers may contribute to our research.

Additional Information

For further information on nitrogen fixing corn we recommend reading the article titled “The Corn of the Future is Hundreds of Years Old and Makes its Own Mucus" published in the Smithsonian Magazine.  Here is the link to the article:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/corn-future-hundreds-years-old-and-makes-its-own-mucus-180969972/

Please also refer to our updated webpage on this subject.