This easy - to - grow industrial plant with vivacious tropical summertime flowers deliver a dramatic event in any garden .
Lush foliage , breathless blooming , sailplane stalks , and tropical tinge are trademark characteristics of the canna lily . Whether institute in the ground or grown in containers , canna lily adds bold texture , color , and dimension to any garden while being easy to care for .
The tight - rise plant life , native to South and Central America , is known for its flashy flowers and equally stunning leaves . Capable of hold out the hot temperatures , canna lily produces prominent blossom all season long . From its jaw - dropping aesthetic to its practical attribute , such as its superlative for concealment and dense increase for occupy thin areas , canna lily is a leading improver to any thou .
Credit: David McDonald
Where to Plant Canna Lily
Plant canna lily in a location with full Sunday or partial shade where the soil is rich and moist .
The plants are cold - sturdy inUSDA Zones 7–10 . If you live in a clime where cannas are not wintertime - hardy , get the picture up the rhizomes in the declination and store them for replant the next year .
The bold canna lily is ideal for the back of a border . Some diverseness maturate as tall as 8 feet . For a alone focal point , grow a stall of several sculptural cannas in the center of a round island layer . In addition to its stunning elevation , canna lily adds a tropical feel wherever it ’s engraft .
Credit: Bert Klassen
How and When to Plant Canna Lily
works canna lily rhizomes in the garden between late spring and early summer after the last frost .
Dig holes and plant each canna rhizome about 6 in deep with the eyes pointing up . Space the rootstalk about 2 feet apart , unless you ’re planting miniature varieties , which should be spaced 1 foot apart . softly water system to get back the soil .
When plant canna lilies in containers , employ good - quality potting soil and a container about 18 column inch wide-cut . engraft a single rhizome 4–6 inches deep in the eye of the potty . For big container , plant two or three rhizomes in the pot .
Credit: Edward Gohlich
One of thetips for found cannasis to part the rhizomes indoors in raft four to six workweek before the last anticipated spring frost , which afford you a startle commence on the uprise season .
Canna Lily Care Tips
Canna lily is well-heeled to grow , and the plant delivers an unforgettable show in the garden when its introductory requirements are met .
Light
As a group , cannas tolerate avariety of sun stipulation . Older varieties and species tolerate some shade , butfull sunbrings out the best foliage colour and bloom show . Canna lilies growing in warm , southern clime necessitate some good afternoon refinement to keep the foliage from bleaching . Taller varieties call for full sun ; otherwise , they flop , which ask staking .
Soil and Water
Canna lily is one of theplants that permit wet ground ; in its native home ground , it often grows close to and even in the water . Consistent wet is of import for the plant to prosper .
The soil should be rich andamended with organic thing , such as compost . Consistent wet is equally significant .
Temperature and Humidity
Canna lily wo n’t survive a frost , although its rhizomes may . This plant life prosper in heat ( 90 ° atomic number 9 and higher ) and eminent humidity . In frost - spare climates , the plant is evergreen .
In cooler climates , gardeners commonly grind up their prized cannas and winter the rhizomes indoors .
Fertilizer
Cannas are dense birdfeeder . use aslow - release granular fertilizer(5 - 10 - 5 or 10 - 10 - 10 ) in the give . An periodic dose of swimming flower fertiliser ( following the label commission ) keep them depend their best during the peak time of year .
Pruning
During the growing season , trim off any idle or damage leaves at the bottom anddeadhead the bloomsregularly to prolong flowering .
In the fall , wait until the first hard frost kills off the foliage , then cut the plant at ground level .
Potting and Repotting Canna Lily
The heavy the potbelly , the better because the roots of the canna lily postulate a sight of space to grow , and the plant becomes marvellous promptly . choose a ceramic , terra - cotta , or encompassing credit card container — or half a whiskey bbl — verify it has drainage pickle . Fill the container within a couple of column inch below the top with good - quality potting ground remediate with compost . implant the rhizomes about 5 in mysterious with the eye pointing upward .
Canna lily roots spread rapidly and easily become crowded , so the industrial plant should be divided and repotted every year or two .
Pests and Problems
Like many garden plants , canna lily attractsaphids , wanderer mite , and mealy bug , all of which can be treated with insecticidal grievous bodily harm orneem oil . Deer and rodents may take a nybble here and there but broadly leave cannas alone .
Canna lily is unfortunately susceptible to several viruses , none of which are treatable . When you see yellow - streaked leave-taking or contort emergence , dispose of the works and any others nearby to foreclose further spread .
How to Propagate Canna Lily
Canna lily is propagated by division or seed . To divide a canna , face-lift it with its root musket ball from the reason using a spade . Shake the soil off the roots and split up the rhizomes by hand into three or more section . The rhizomes with the secure shoots will deliver the most abundant leafage . Replant the sectionalization mighty away and water them well .
To start out canna from seed , in previous winter , soak the seeds for 24 hours , then satisfy apot or flatwith aseed - start medium . Sow the seeds and only lightly address them with the medium . Water well and hold off for any surplus water to drain off . Cover the flat or wad with clear plastic wrapper and put it in a lovesome blank space between 70 ° F and 75 ° F . The seeds germinate in about two hebdomad . Once they spud , take out the charge plate . Place the seedling in a gay windowpane orunder a grow light . Wait until all peril of frost has pass off before hardening off the seedling and found them outside .
Many canna lilies are loan-blend , and the seeds collect from those plants wo n’t get canna lily that are lawful to the parent works . If you do n’t know what type of canna you have , propagation by divisionis the good choice because it create much more predictable results .
Credit: Blaine Moats
Overwintering Canna Lily
Canna lily are not winter - hardy below Zone 7 . To winter potted canna , wait until the foliage die back in late fall and quit irrigate the plants . Move the pots to a cool , moody topographic point , such as an unwarmed garage or basement . Keep the ground wry throughout the winter . As temperatures warm up in the spring , resume lachrymation .
If you had plant your canna lily in the ground , fag up the tender rootstock after thefirst frostknocks back the leaf . Place them in a plastic bag with a few muddle for aeration and fence each rhizome with slimly dampish peat moss . ensure no two rootstock touch each other . Store them in a cool , juiceless , dark place . In the spring , after all peril of frost has fall out ( most potential during previous natural spring ) , unwrap the rhizomes and plant them instantly in the dry land .
Types of Canna Lily
When canna lily first began to be used for its ornamental ingathering , the shiny flowers were the actual stars . In recent years , the introduction of intercrossed crisscross means these plant have become do it as much for theircolorful foliageas their vibrant - hued heyday . In addition to plain green leaves , the foliage colors and patterns now include naughty - green , striped Burgundy wine and gold , and cream - splashed jet .
‘Lucifer’ Canna Lily
This selection of canna lily bring about bright flushed flowers edged in yellow . The bloom sit down atop a nanus plant life that grows to 4 feet tall in Zones 7–11 .
‘Australia’ Canna Lily
Growing to 5 feet grandiloquent in Zones 7 - 10 , the ‘ Australia ’ canna lilyoffers a bold combining of cryptical purple leaf with crimson flowers .
‘Cleopatra’ Canna Lily
Canna‘Cleopatra ’ bear lush , broad leaves that accompany stems of clustered bright gold efflorescence with an periodic orange tree bloom or orange stippling on scandalmongering petals . It grows to 4 foot tall in Zones 7–11 .
‘Intrigue’ Canna Lily
Grown more for its foliage , this diversity of canna lilydoes have orange blossoms in late summer . The 7 - foot - magniloquent foliage has minute , burgundy leaves that bet sensational in the back of a border . The ‘ machination ’ canna thrive in Zones 7–10 .
‘Pretoria’ Canna Lily
Canna‘Pretoria ’ is a large , lofty variety that flaunts broad yellow - peel leaves and sizable orangish blooms . It grows 6 to 8 feet marvelous and is stout in Zones 7–11 .
‘Tropical Rose’ Canna Lily
‘ Tropical Rose ’ canna lily is a heavyset , prize - winning assortment top with gigantic bouquet of rose - pinkish flowers . The mesmerizing nanus plant grows to 2½ feet improbable in Zones 7–11 .
Tropicanna Canna Lily
florid orange tree veining on panoptic dark-green leaves makes Tropicannacannas spectacularly unique . Golden orange flowers fill in the nirvana pallet in this 4 - foot - marvellous plant , which does well in zone 7–11 .
‘Wyoming’ Canna Lily
Canna‘Wyoming ’ delights with huge , powdered ginger - Orange River efflorescence that glow against the background of deep purple - dark-green foliage . It grows 3 to 4 feet tall in Zones 7–11 .
Frequently Asked Questions
Canna lily lives for five or more years when they are overwintered aright and their needs are met . The plant ’s animation can be extended through division every couple of years .
Each blush last up to a week on the plant , but it is quickly followed by the next bloom , a process that deadheading the first bloom pep pill up . Although they make beautiful cutting flowers , each bloom endure only a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or two in an arrangement , leaving behind its entrancing foliage to complement other bloom .
A rhizome is part of a plant ’s underground root system . Rhizomes are horizontal stems that produce shoots and new root system , allow plant to reproduce . Similar to bulbs and tuber , rhizomes help works store zip when dormant and expect more favorable grow conditions .
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Despite the name , canna lilies are n’t associate to the true lily of the Liliaceae family . Canna lily belong to the Cannaceae plant family .
Yes , squirrels will grok for canna lily rootstalk and eat them . Mice and voles corrode canna leaves and stems . However , rabbit leave cannas alone , while hungry deer only occasionally nibble .
Credit: David McDonald
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Credit: Laurie Black
Credit: Bill Stites
