Glass Gem corn stands out as an exquisite masterpiece of nature, boasting a mesmerizing array of rainbow colors that make it one of the most visually captivating corn varieties known to man. However, it’s not just its stunning appearance that sets it apart; the backstory behind this remarkable crop is equally enchanting.
The origins of Glass Gem corn trace back to an Oklahoma farmer named Carl Barnes, whose quest to connect with his Native American heritage led him on a remarkable journey. In his later years, he dedicated himself to cultivating older corn varieties, delving into the art of corn breeding. With a keen eye for selecting and preserving seeds from cobs displaying vibrant, translucent hues, Barnes unintentionally brought the rainbow to life in the form of corn.
The enchanting tale of this unique corn variety was primarily recounted by Barnes’ protege, Greg Schoen, in 2012 when the Glass Gem corn became an internet sensation.
While experimenting with these vintage corn varieties, Barnes managed to recover ancestral types that had been lost to Native American tribes during their forced relocation to what is now Oklahoma in the 1800s. This endeavor resulted in an exchange of ancient corn seeds with individuals he met and befriended across the country.
The exact number of seasons Barnes meticulously curated, saved, and replanted these special seeds remains a mystery. However, after many years of dedication, his painstaking efforts gave rise to a wondrous corn that has captivated people worldwide.
In 1994, a fellow farmer, Greg Schoen, encountered Barnes at a native plant gathering in Oklahoma, where Barnes proudly displayed his rainbow-colored corn. Schoen was utterly captivated.
The following year, Barnes generously bestowed some of the rainbow seeds upon Schoen, who planted them for the first time that summer. Schoen and Barnes maintained a close friendship, and over the years, Schoen received more samples of the rainbow seed.
Initially, Schoen only grew small quantities of the colorful corn in New Mexico, where he had relocated in 1999. In 2005, Schoen expanded his cultivation, planting larger plots of the rainbow corn near Santa Fe, alongside more traditional varieties. When mixed with these traditional counterparts, the rainbow corn gave rise to new strains. Year by year, the corn exhibited increasingly vibrant colors and intricate patterns.
Schoen meticulously categorized the various colors and patterns that emerged, coining names like “circus colors,” “true rainbow,” “deep blue,” and more.
In 2007, Schoen christened one variety “Glass Gems,” named after a striking blue-green and pink-purple corn that he cultivated. This particular variety became the focal point of the viral sensation in 2012, thrusting the unique-colored corn into the spotlight.
Since then, Glass Gem corn has continued to evolve through careful selection and refinement, emerging as the flawless rainbow corn that enchants us today.
