Glass Gem — The Most Beautiful Corn in the World, With a Cherokee Heritage
Glass Gem is the corn that stopped the internet — and it is every bit as extraordinary in person. Bred from a number of Native varieties by Carl Barnes, a part-Cherokee farmer and breeder from Oklahoma, Glass Gem produces a diversity of gorgeous translucent, jewel-colored ears, each one completely unique. The translucent kernels genuinely shine like glass; on the cob, they resemble strands of glass beads in every color imaginable. Ears range from 3 to 8 inches in length, and plants can reach up to 8 feet tall (typically 6 feet), commonly producing numerous tillers with additional ears. Not just decorative — Glass Gem grinds into delicious cornmeal, pops into white fluffy popcorn, and can be made into grits and hominy. 110–120 days.
Plant 50 or more seeds in blocks for best pollination — single rows result in poorly filled cobs.
Why Grow Glass Gem?
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The most beautiful corn in the world — translucent jewel-colored kernels, every ear unique
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Cherokee heritage — bred by Carl Barnes from multiple Native varieties in Oklahoma
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3–8 inch ears — wide variation in size and color, no two alike
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Edible and delicious — pops into white fluffy popcorn, grinds into cornmeal, makes grits & hominy
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Prolific — plants produce numerous tillers with additional ears
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Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year
Growing Notes
Direct sow outdoors after last frost when soil has warmed to at least 60°F. Plant in blocks of at least 4×4 — 50+ seeds recommended for best pollination and full cobs. Sow seeds 1 inch deep, 8–12 inches apart, in rows 30–36 inches apart. Water consistently. Allow cobs to fully dry on the plant before harvest for seed saving or popping.
| Days to Maturity |
110–120 days |
| Ear Size |
3–8 inches, every ear unique |
| Plant Height |
Up to 8 feet (typically 6 feet) |
| Best Uses |
Popcorn, cornmeal, grits, hominy & ornamental |
| Origin |
Bred by Carl Barnes, part-Cherokee, Oklahoma |
| Type |
Heirloom, Open-Pollinated, Non-GMO |
| Spacing |
8–12 inches in blocks (min. 50 seeds) |
| USDA Zones |
3–12 |
Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.
