| Description | A group of tropical looking plants grown not only for the flowers but also for their colorful foliage. |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizoms, etc., Perennial Tender, Site author's observations |
| Hardiness Zone | 7-10 |
| Sunlight | full sun |
| Moisture | I have seen Canna growing in water. In dry seasons in my garden I given them "survival" water and they have prospered. Average to moist would be a good starting point. |
| Soil & Site | average to moist, organic |
| Temperature | Tops will die at the first good frost. The rhizomes will tolerate light frosts but should be dug before the frost penetrates the ground and turns the rhizomes to mush. |
| Flowers | Canna have a large pallet of flower colors forms delicate pinks to shocking orange depending on the cultivar. Flowers are borne in a raceme or panicle (branched raceme) |
| Fruit | warty capsule, round hard seeds |
| Leaves | A large pallet of foliage colors depending on the cultivar. It can vary from almost black, green, purple, brown, and few variegated, etc. Leaves are spirally arranged around the stem. |
| Stems | stout stem, usually finite (reaches a certain height), underground rhizomes |
| Dimensions | 2-3 feet up to 8 plus, space 18-24 inches on center |
| Maintenance | The tubers should be lifted after the frost has killed the top. They should be cleaned and stored dry and cool. I like to store the clump whole and than divide in the spring. Depending on your storage area they my need to be moisten. Check occasionally to see it the tubers are shriveling. |
| Propagation | The most common way is division of the clump. Seeds must be scarified (scratched) and soaked in water. |
| Native Site | Species Canna are native to the tropical areas of South America. |
| Author's Notes | Over the last 30 years I have grown many different types of Canna in the ground and in pots. Especially like some of the newer cultivars with their vivid foliage. The city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) use to grown vast numbers of these plants in their street plantings. |
| Notes & Reference | #162-The Gardeners Guide to Growing Cannas (Ian Cooke) |
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