This easy-to-grow plant with vibrant tropical summer flowers delivers a dramatic effect in any garden.
Lush foliage, breathtaking blooms, soaring stalks, and tropical undertones are trademark characteristics of the canna lily.
Capable of withstanding the hottest temperatures, canna lily produces spectacular blooms all season long.
Credit: David McDonald
The plants are cold-hardy inUSDA Zones 710.
The bold canna lily is ideal for the back of a border.
Some varieties grow as tall as 8 feet.
Credit: Bert Klassen
In addition to its stunning height, canna lily adds a tropical feel wherever its planted.
Dig holes and plant each canna rhizome about 6 inches deep with the eyes pointing up.
Gently water to settle the soil.
Credit: Edward Gohlich
When planting canna lilies in containers, use good-quality potting soil and a container about 18 inches wide.
Plant a single rhizome 46 inches deep in the center of the pot.
For larger containers, plant two or three rhizomes in the pot.
Credit: Blaine Moats
Light
As a group, cannas tolerate avariety of sun conditions.
Older varieties and species tolerate some shade, butfull sunbrings out the best leaf color and flower show.
Canna lilies growing in warm, southern climates need some afternoon shade to keep the foliage from bleaching.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Taller varieties need full sun; otherwise, they flop, which necessitates staking.
Consistent moisture is important for the plants to thrive.
The soil should be rich andamended with organic matter, such as compost.
Credit: David McDonald
Consistent moisture is equally important.
Temperature and Humidity
Canna lily wont survive a frost, although its rhizomes may.
This plant thrives in heat (90F and higher) and high humidity.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
In frost-free climates, the plant is evergreen.
In cooler climates, gardeners commonly dig up their prized cannas and overwinter the rhizomes indoors.
Fertilizer
Cannas are heavy feeders.
Credit: Laurie Black
Apply aslow-release granular fertilizer(5-10-5 or 10-10-10) in the spring.
Select a ceramic, terra-cotta, or wide plastic containeror half a whiskey barrelmaking sure it has drainage holes.
Fill the container within a couple of inches below the top with good-quality potting soil amended with compost.
Credit: Bill Stites
Plant the rhizomes about 5 inches deep with the eye pointing upward.
Deer and rodents may take a nibble here and there but generally leave cannas alone.
Canna lily is unfortunately susceptible to several viruses, none of which are treatable.
How to Propagate Canna Lily
Canna lily is propagated by division or seeds.
To divide a canna, lift it with its root ball from the ground using a spade.
Shake the soil off the roots and divide the rhizomes by hand into three or more sections.
The rhizomes with the strongest shoots will deliver the most abundant foliage.
Replant the divisions right away and water them well.
Sow the seeds and only lightly cover them with the medium.
Water well and wait for any excess water to drain off.
The seeds germinate in about two weeks.
Once they germinate, remove the plastic.
Place the seedlings in a sunny window orunder a grow light.
Wait until all danger of frost has passed before hardening off the seedlings and planting them outside.
Overwintering Canna Lily
Canna lilies are not winter-hardy below Zone 7.
To overwinter potted canna, wait until the foliage dies back in late fall and stop watering the plants.
Move the pots to a cool, dark place, such as an unheated garage or basement.
Keep the soil dry throughout the winter.
As temperatures warm up in the spring, resume watering.
ensure no two rhizomes touch each other.
Store them in a cool, dry, dark place.
Lucifer Canna Lily
This selection of canna lily produces bright red flowers edged in yellow.
The blooms sit atop a dwarf plant that grows to 4 feet tall in Zones 711.
It grows to 4 feet tall in Zones 711.
The 7-foot-tall foliage has narrow, burgundy leaves that look stunning in the back of a border.
The Intrigue canna thrives in Zones 710.
It grows 6 to 8 feet tall and is hardy in Zones 711.
The mesmerizing dwarf plant grows to 212 feet tall in Zones 711.
Tropicanna Canna Lily
Flamboyant orange veining on broad green leaves makes Tropicannacannas spectacularly unique.
Golden orange flowers complete the paradise palette in this 4-foot-tall plant, which does well in Zones 711.
It grows 3 to 4 feet tall in Zones 711.
The plants life can be extended through division every couple of years.
A rhizome is part of a plants underground root system.
Rhizomes are horizontal stems that produce shoots and new root systems, allowing plants to reproduce.
Similar to bulbs and tubers, rhizomes help plants store energy when dormant and awaiting more favorable growing conditions.
Despite the name, canna lilies arent related to the true lilies of the Liliaceae family.
Canna lilies belong to the Cannaceae plant family.
Yes, squirrels will dig for canna lily rhizomes and eat them.
Mice and voles eat canna leaves and stems.
However, rabbits leave cannas alone, while hungry deer only occasionally nibble.
