Bulbs
Toucan ® Dark Orange canna . Photo by : Proven Winners .
Cannas may be the boldest of the summertime bulbs , rival the striking flowered looker and impressive height of the populargarden glad . Even from a distance , cannas are show - stoppers and the perfect plants forturning your garden into a tropical paradise .
Although not a true lily ( even though commonly called canna lily ) , the canna plant life is every bit as showy . Cannas produce massive blooms in colors ranging from pallid pastel to vibrant oranges and reds . The huge , jungle - like leaves are equally eye - catching and come in a all-encompassing array of solid and varicoloured colors .
Althoughcannasare herbaceous perennial in tropical climates , they can be grown as yearbook almost anywhere as long as you give them ample sunlight and moisture . Cannas also come in a all-embracing range of sizes , from container - well-disposed dwarf varieties to 6 - foot - tall monster .
On this page : Basics|Planting|Care and Maintenance|Pictures|Overwintering|Design thought
On this page :
THE BASICS
Botanical name:
Cannaspp . and hybrid
Common names:
Canna , canna lily , Indian shooting , arrowroot
Native area:
Tropical and subtropical regions of Central and South America
Plant type:
Although you will often see cannas mark as “ summer bulb , ” they actually grow from rhizomes .
Zones:
Perennial in zone 8 - 10 ; develop as annual in Zones 2 - 7
Height:
From 18 inches to over 6 groundwork magniloquent , depending on the variety
Exposure:
fond tone to full sun
Bloom Time:
From early to midsummer until frost
Flowers:
rosiness in shades of scandalmongering , crimson , pink , carmine , orangish , or creamy whitened occur in cluster at the top of tall stems . Some cultivar have striking bi- or multi - colored blooms . The flowers are short - lived , hold out only a mean solar day or two , but new 1 soon follow to provide continual blooms all season .
Foliage:
turgid and paddle - shaped , with prominent midribs and veins ( exchangeable in appearance to banana flora foliage ) . Can be various spook of green , sinister purple , bronze or red , often with narrow stripe of coloring following the leafage vein .
Special attributes:
PLANTING CANNAS
When to plant:
In recent bounce or other summertime , after all risk of rime is preceding and the soil has warmed up to at least 60 degrees F. A good general guidepost is to plant cannas around the same time it ’s safe in your area to put tomato plant plants in the garden .
Where to plant:
A position in full sun ( 6 to 8 hours daily ) is best for good leaf colour and bloom exploitation . However , cannas raise in the Deep South or the desert Southwest will gain from some good afternoon nuance to keep the foliation from decolor . If possible , plant your canna in a spot sheltered from the wind to avoid impairment to the large leave of absence .
How to plant:
Plant canna rhizomes in hollow 3 to 4 inches inscrutable with the eyes ( or bud ) front upwards . Space flora at least 2 foot apart to give them room to spread . Choose rhizomes that are immobile and fatten with at least three eyes . ( More eye often ensue in bigger , more rich plants . ) Cover the rhizomes with 1 to 2 inch of grime and weewee thoroughly .
If you do n’t need to wait for your canna to arise from rhizomes , you could often regain canna plants sold at greenhouse , garden centre , andonlinein the spring . flora at a depth no deep than the top of the tooth root ball , and travel along the same space guidelines .
Planting cannas in containers:
If planting canna in pots , take a container big enough to allow the roots to pass around and to prevent the plant from tumble as it grows to full pinnacle . commonly you ’ll need a container at least 18 inches in diameter , unless you ’re planting a dwarf canna kind . Self - watering containers , such asAquaPots ® , are a good choice for cannas because of their demanding water requirements .
Soil:
Cannas thrive in productive grime high in constitutive issue , but will do all right in most garden ground as long as they have consistent wet .
HOW TO CARE FOR CANNAS
See this container recipewith Toucan ® Yellow thriller . picture by : Proven Winners .
Watering:
Give these water - loving plant life at least 1 to 2 inches of pee per week during the growing time of year to keep the soil moist , particularly during teetotal spells . To aid conserve grime moisture , apply a 2- to 4 - in layer of mulch around your plants .
Container - grown canna will want more frequent watering to prevent the soil from drying out , as often as once or twice a day . Do n’t occupy too much about overwatering . In their aboriginal home ground , canna plants are often found produce near to or even part submerged in piss .
Fertilizing:
Cannas need a muckle of nourishment to excite bloom production and keep the leafage profuse and attractive . In garden beds , work peck of compost or other organic matter into the soil at planting prison term in the fountain , along with acontrolled - release plant food . Container - grown plant will also profit from the software of controlled - release fertilizer , but may also call for supplemental feedings with awater - soluble plant foodstarting in midsummer .
Deadheading:
It ’s not necessary to deadhead cannas if you are growing a non - seeding variety show , but if your plants commence to uprise seedpods , pinch off the fagged bloom of youth will ensue in more prolific efflorescence output . Be measured to remove only the fading blossom and not the bud still persist on the prime stiletto heel . New bloom will uphold to develop from that main still hunt all summer .
Diseases and Pests:
possible pest threats to cannas includeslugs and garden escargot , andJapanese mallet . However , the worst and most destructive pest is the canna leafroller , a caterpillar that feeds and pupates inside a rolled - up canna leaf before it open up , eating aside the foliage from the inside out . controller measures let in write out off and chuck out of the impress foliation or unrolling the leafage and removing the caterpillar by script .
CANNA VARIETIES
exposure by : Proven Winners .
Toucan ® yellowness — Buy now from Proven Winners
Height / Spread:30 to 48 inch tall , 14 to 20 inches blanket
Bloom Time : Late give until fall
Tall and graceful , featuring radiant clusters of yellow bloom climb up above a lush backdrop of blue - green foliage . efflorescence in the beginning than most varieties , lead off in former bound and continuing until icing . Also try other colours in theToucan ® seriesincluding precious coral and orange red .
Toucan ® vermilion — Buy now from Proven winner
Height / Spread:30 to 48 inches tall , 18 to 24 inches encompassing
Scarlet - cherry heyday bloom atop lush fleeceable foliage all summertime long . Very disease resistant , tolerate heat and humidity , and continues to blossom without deadheading . Ideal for add a vibrant tropic panache to your garden .
Photo by : Proven Winners
Cleopatra
Height / Spread:3 to 4 feet marvelous , 2 to 3 feet wide
Bloom Time : Late summertime until frost
Exotic and mysterious , like the Queen of the Nile herself , with blooms on the same plant that may be pure red , chicken with red speckling , or a compounding of both . The leafage coloration is equally unpredictable and can range from all green to chocolate Robert Brown . Each plant puts on a unique video display of ever - change color compounding .
Photo by : Jace Cameron / Shutterstock
Bengal Tiger ( also know asCanna’Pretoria '
Height / Spread:4 to 6 feet tall , 2 to 3 understructure all-inclusive
Bloom Time : June through September
Here ’s a canna that much roar for care , boasting glorious green and yellowish striped leave topped by vibrant orange bloom with crimson throats . Can be planted in moist soil or in piddle up to a profoundness of 6 inches .
exposure by : Anthony Tesselar / Flickr .
Tropicanna ® Black
Height / Spread:5 to 6 fundament grandiloquent , 18 to 24 inch encompassing
Bloom Time : Midsummer to fall
Huge , glossy , dark bronze leaves are localise off by glorious tangerine - red flowers , creating an middle - popping color direct contrast that wo n’t fail to be noticed , even when planted at the back of the border . Also try the evenly stunning Tropicanna ® Gold Canna , which has green and yellow stripy leaves and soft orangish flowers edged in icteric .
pic by : Tracy Immordino / Shutterstock
WY
Height / Spread:3 to 4 metrical unit tall , 12 to 18 column inch wide
hit green , purple , and bronze variegated leafage is top off by fiery orange blooms up to 4 inch across . The thickset sizing makes it a undecomposed choice for containers .
Photo by : Rock Giguere / Millette Photomedia
Pink Sunburst
Height / Spread:32 to 36 inches tall , 20 to 24 inches wide
Bloom Time : Midsummer until frost
Has discase leaf interchangeable to that of ‘ Bengal Tiger ’ but with the addition of pink veining to recall the color of the sonant salmon - pink blooms . Grows to only 3 feet marvellous .
Photo courtesy All America Selections
Tropical ™ Rose
Height / Spread:18 to 30 in tall , 16 to 18 inches wide
Bloom Time : former summertime until former nightfall
This All - America Selections winner is remarkably prolific , bring forth velvety rose - colour blooms in profusion all summertime long . As the first flower spike matures , another spike soon follows laden with tonic young blooms . Dwarf shape is idealistic for borders and container plantings .
Alaska
Height / Spread:3 to 4 foot tall , up to 2 foot wide
canna with clean heyday are a rarity , and this cultivar is one of the best , have aglow creamy white flowers with finely feather petals . A great addition to amoon gardenalong with other blanched - flower plants .
sport in : Garden Design ’s Top 10 Garden Trends for 2022(“Including flora that Transport You to the Tropics " )
OVERWINTERING CANNAS
Unlike spring bulb , cannas are sensible to freezing temperatures and the rootstock must be dug up in fall and stored until planting time the following spring . In mild climates where the soil does n’t freeze , the rootstalk can be leave in the ground over winter .
If you do n’t want to part with your beautiful cannas when the maturate season end , here ’s how you may preserve them for planting again the following outflow :
For more on planting and storing bulbs , seeBulbs 101 .
CANNAS IN YOUR GARDEN
Cannas are not meant to be subtle . Their bold flowered colour and flamboyant leafage create a big ocular encroachment wherever you plant them . Here are musical theme for taking advantage of their “ look at me ” qualities :
