Canna

Canna Generalis

A mainstay of gardens across much of North America, cannas are heat-loving perennials prized for their bold foliage and colorful flowers.

Canna foliage ranges from bright green to deep burgundy, bronze, and striking variegated patterns. Flowers may be yellow, orange, red, pink, or combinations of these colors, often appearing above the foliage on stalks throughout the heat of summer. Deadheading helps encourage new blooms and removes the more unsightly looking spent flowers, which can get a slimy texture when left on the plant

Location: Cannas do well as a background plant in landscaping beds, where their tall height can provide bulk and variation to smaller plants, flowers and shrubs in the foreground. While they can do well in large pots, watering consistently becomes critical for continued appeal.

Height: Height: 3–5 feet, Spread: 1½–2½ feet

Light: Full sun is ideal. Cannas tolerate some shade, but flowering is generally best with plenty of direct sunlight. In Texas and other sun-heavy climates, afternoon heat and intense sun are not inherently a problem as long as the plants receive adequate moisture.

Soil: Cannas tolerate a range of soils but perform particularly well in fertile soil. They can spread easily, so many gardeners dig and divide every few years and when they spread too much.

Water: They appreciate regular moisture, particularly during hot weather.

Heat Tolerance: Excellent.

Cold Tolerance: Top growth is killed by frost.

USDA Hardiness and Overwintering: Generally hardy in Zones 7–10, although hardiness varies by cultivar. In warmer regions, rhizomes can usually remain in the ground over winter, particularly when protected with a layer of mulch, such as shredded tree trimmings or straw (not hay!). In colder climates, dig the rhizomes after frost has killed the foliage but before a hard freeze. Allow them to dry, then store them in a cool, dry, frost-free location until spring. We have had good success with packing them in sand and stored in the garage.