Canna

Canna Lilly
Canna
Type: Perennials  sometimes grown as Annuals
Exposure: Full Sun
Water: Regular to Ample

For Rosemary

Time to add to our list of big, colorful, in-your-face, tropical-looking plants.  Canna lillies, or just cannas, feature dramatic, colorful foliage and vibrantly colored flowers, available in shades of pink, red, orange, yellow, white as well as some bi-color varieties. These blooms are large and somewhat disorganized-looking, and are held above the foliage starting in mid-summer and lasting well into the fall. The foliage choices are as varied as the flowers, maybe even more so. Selections include green-leaved forms (such as the top photo), plus maroon-, bronze-, striped, and multi-colored ones. The leaves are all large and lance-shaped.

There are three size ranges. The largest cannas can reach as high as 8ft (2.4m). The middle range cannas are closer to 4-6ft (1.2-1.8m) tall, while the dwarf cannas top out at 2-2.5ft (60-75cm).

All are tender perennials, which means that in more tropical climates they can be planted and left in place over the winter. Here in our not-quite-as-tropical zone (USDA) 8, they need to be either container planted, and then moved into storage, container and all; or dug up and their rhizomes stored in a frost free location. You may recall from way back on September 23rd, we treat the Abyssinian banana much the same way.

An aquatic canna, canna glauca, is also available.

Cheers,

John