Indian Corn 'Painted Mountain'

Thanks to its early ripening, this beautiful flour corn is sure to thrive in our climate. In addition to being ornamental, the cobs (15-17 cm long) are a very nutritious base for cornmeal, popular for roasting or for making grits. The plants are compact: 120-150 cm high.
A driven corn breeder from Big Timber, Montana: Dave Christensen decided around 1975 to find a suitable corn that could grow in his mountainous state. He started with 12 varieties from the Seed Bank, originating from the Mandan Indians (the "white" Indians) and expanded this genetic treasure with corn from current Native American families and from traditional hobby breeders. After years of crossing and selection, a beautiful mix of very cold-hardy and fast-ripening corn emerged: biodiversity within one variety! It is one of the few corn varieties (if not the only one) that grows up to 1500 m altitude, but even in the warmest agricultural areas on earth, 'Painted Mountain' yields a good harvest. In this way, this variety contributes to global, sustainable agriculture. Read Dave's story on his own site: http://www.seedweneed.com/index-1.html or http://rockymountaincorncom.ipage.com/

Names:
Latin: Zea mays
English: Indian Corn