A maize plant and a method of increasing the number of grain bearing ears per plant is provided. The maize plants, irrespective of their variety, exhibit at least two adjacent shortened internodes (defined as being equal to or less than twice the largest transverse dimension of the stalk just above the ground) spacing at least two ear nodes. Preferably the internode spacing is about 70 mm or less. The maize plants are preferably selected such that the ears develop substantially synchronously the silks start being exerted either at the same time as, or before, pollen is released by the tassels of the plants and the maize plants are both of a dwarf maize type and a prolific plant type.
