Canna spp.
Although canna lilies typically grow in steamy climates, you can still plant, grow, and care for them even if you don’t live in one.
Picture a lush, tropical landscape with palm trees, large green leaves, and bright, dramatic blooms.
You might be imagining yourself lying on a beach chair, surrounded by palm fronds, and drinking a pina colada. Or maybe that’s just where I see myself in this scenario!
The following plants are essential for a tropical garden – and I would also add a pina colada to that! Just like birds of paradise and hibiscus, cannas are the epitome of summertime flowers that thrive in hot and humid climates.
Although they don’t naturally occur in temperate regions, they can survive with a little more sunlight and some extra effort to protect them from the cold. You can even wear some flip flops for the full experience.
What Are Canna Lilies?
They’re anything but mundane!
The Cannaceae family only consists of one genus, Canna. This small group contains 10 species of flowering perennials that are closely related to other tropical plants such as ginger, bananas, and birds of paradise.
The plant known as a lily is not actually a true lily, as it is not a member of the genus. To learn more about the difference between true lilies and other species, check out our guide on planting and growing lilies.
Herbaceous perennials that prefer heat and humidity, and that can thrive in many types of soil, including clay and sand, are champ tolerators.
It is necessary to keep the ground moist for cannas. In fact, you can plant some of them in or near a water feature or boggy area.
Anatomy
Plants with rhizomatous roots, large leaves, and uniquely structured blooms are called “these plants.”
flower species have three large petals that are actually clustered staminodes, with the true petals being small and hidden.
These species occur in disturbed habitats and flower profusely in the spring. Some species of Cyrtanthus, like C. amabilis and C. paniculata, have skinny staminodes and sometimes produce really full inflorescences with lots of blooms. These species are found in habitats that have been disturbed and they flower a lot in the spring.
They are also a preferred source of nectar for pollinators, particularly hummingbirds that love the open-throated, easy-access flowers.
We can’t just skate past the leaves – the colors and patterns are incredibly spectacular. They often feature bright colors such as purple, yellow, and red. Each immature leaf grows in a curled tube. They unfurl like magic to reveal the color and pattern inside.
Some of the most remarkable examples have patterns of color that are unlike any others.
The purple stems and orange inflorescences of C. indica ‘Phasion’, for example, look like they came straight from a tropical fairytale. The orange, yellow, and burgundy variegated leaves add to the effect.
The thick and sturdy stalks that hold the leaves and blossoms can be brightly colored as well, in tones of green, purple, and red.
The leaves of this plant are usually 10-12 inches wide, and can be 1-4 feet long. A single plant can spread out over more than three feet.
Dwarf cultivars are bred to remain shorter than four feet.
Taller varieties of this plant can grow to be up to seven feet tall, while wild specimens can reach up to 10 feet.
We can talk more about their origins and uses.
Cultivation and History
The tuberous corms of C. indica are native to southern North America, Central America, and northern South America. The indigenous peoples of the region used them as a food source for centuries before they were discovered by foreign explorers.
The first known specimens of what were collected from the Americas and sent to Europe in the mid-1500s.
The plants’ arrival is uncertain, but botanists at the time quickly took notice. They started growing the plants, but it wasn’t until the 1800s that cannas became widely planted.
Botanical names are constantly changing because of the crossbreeding of different species. The generic hybrid name C. x generalis is used for most plants. They are sorted into 10 groups based on their features, such as foliage color and type, growth structure, and where they are grown.
Some African and Middle Eastern cultures use the seeds of the plant as a filling for percussion instruments such as gourd rattles, which are similar in design to maracas.
Wild plants are usually much taller than cultivated ones, sometimes reaching a height of 10 feet. The flowers they produce are often small compared to those of cultivated varieties.
Botanists and breeders have crossed specimens for over 200 years to improve various aspects, such as bloom size, height, and cold hardiness.
Some types of canna plants have edible leaves, blooms, and starchy roots that are used in agriculture. Canna starch can be used as a substitute for arrowroot and is often given to livestock as a cheap food source.
Cannas grow best in semi-wetland areas, like along riverbanks and lake beds. They prefer a somewhat boggy environment, and can tolerate being partially submerged.
The tubers can purify the area around them by filtering out toxins and pollutants. They are especially good at this in wetland areas.
In ideal conditions, healthy plants produce blooms that self-pollinate to produce seed pods. The seeds are approximately one-quarter inch in diameter and hard as stones, with a seed coat that is nearly impenetrable.
When the pods from a self-seeded plant dry and split open, the contents scatter onto the ground below, causing the plant to grow in that area.
In an environment with a lot of bog, the wet ground gradually dissolves the fibers in the tough exterior layer around the seed, allowing the seed to absorb water and germinate.
Keeping this idea in mind, let’s talk about propagation at home and which methods work best.
How to Plant Canna Lilies
It’s better to grow canna lilies from rhizomes than seeds because the seeds have low germination rates and require more preparation before planting. Look for potted canna lilies or rhizomes instead.
The size of the plant is determined by the number of eyes on the rhizome. Small growth bumps on the rhizome are the eyes. Choose large, plump, firm rhizomes with a minimum of three eyes.
To plant the rhizomes, dig a hole that is 2-3 inches deep. Be sure not to plant them too deep, as this can prevent the plant from growing. The eyes of the plant should be pointing up. When planting the rhizomes, space them 18-24 inches apart. Canna lilies need room to grow, so make sure to space them out from other plants. If you are planting the rhizomes outside, add mulch on top of the soil.
You can start your rhizomes indoors four to six weeks before the last frost if you live in a cool climate. Be sure not to plant them until after the risk of frost has passed. A good rule of thumb is to plant them when you plant your tomatoes.
If you plant cannas in your garden, you can expect to see blooms 10-12 weeks after planting. These blooms will be especially spectacular, as cannas flower their first year.
CONTAINER PLANTING
Canna lilies will do great in big planters. Since they are pretty large plants, the containers they should be in should be at least 16 inches in diameter.
Pots that are larger and heavier will help to keep the plant from becoming too top-heavy and blowing over in the wind. Therefore, if you have been wanting to get the large ceramic pot of your dreams, this is the perfect opportunity!
Canna Lily Care
Although they don’t need much attention, there are some things you can do to make your canna lilies produce bigger, better blooms than your neighbor’s.
SUN REQUIREMENTS
Canna lilies grow best in full sun. They can also survive in partial shade, but thrive in full sun. Give your canna lily at least four hours of sun.
If you live in a hot climate, you can protect your canna from the hot afternoon sun by providing some shade. They are sensitive to cold and frost but can survive temperatures up to 90°F.
SOIL
In an ideal world, your cannas would prefer soil with a pH of 6 to 6.5. However, they do well in most acidic or neutral soils. The most important thing to remember about your soil is to make sure it doesn’t get too soggy and provide proper drainage if you’re growing them in a container. Otherwise, you may end up with root rot.
If you’re curious about the pH of your soil and want to test it yourself, here is a simple test you can do at home.
WATER
If you live in a tropical or warm and humid climate, cannas will do well. However, if you are experiencing a period of drought with less than 1 inch of rainfall per week, you should water your cannas.
It is a good idea to water your canna plant every other day when it is hot outside. However, you should not let the plant sit in soil that is too wet.
FERTILIZER
Cannas are known for their large and beautiful blooms, so it makes sense that they are heavy feeders. If your canna is in a pot on the patio or inside, feed it monthly with a slow-release fertilizer or every other week with a liquid fertilizer.
To grow a canna lily outside, you will need to add a lot of compost to give it the nutrients it needs.
PESTS AND DISEASES
This plant is resistant to fungi due to its waxy leaves. The main issue you may see with this plant are caterpillars, which lay their eggs in the plant stalks and build webbing that prevents the leaves from unfurling.
In addition to the caterpillars, you may also notice grasshoppers, snails, Japanese beetles, and rust fungus.
DEADHEADING
In order to have a large number of blooms, deadheading must be done. After the blooms have faded, the stalks can be cut with shears or a knife. Keep in mind that each flower stalk generally produces two to four spikes of blooms.
After the flowers on a stem have faded, cut the stem back to a side shoot. Once the stem stops producing spikes of flowers, you can remove it entirely.
Maintaining the appearance of your plant may require staking in windy areas, but this won’t be necessary most of the time.
Propagating Canna Lily Rhizomes
If you want more cannas, they reproduce well by making plenty of rhizomes. You should divide your canna every few years to prevent overcrowding.
During the fall or early spring, carefully dig up the plant. Be careful not to damage the rhizomes or the mother plant.
Trim the growth so that it is 1 inch above where the stems meet the rhizomes. Remove the excess soil from the rhizomes by brushing it off with your hand.
Use a sterile knife to cut the old rhizomes from the new ones. There should be at least one eye on each piece, but it’s ideal to have four or more.
If you were to dig up the plant in early spring, you would be able to plant the new rhizomes right away. If not, store them for the winter instead.
Storing Canna Lily Rhizomes
After you have dug up or divided your canna lilies, you need to separate each rhizome from the others. Wrap them in newspaper and some growing medium, such as coconut coir or vermiculite. This will help to prevent rot and absorb moisture.
You will need to store the rhizomes in a dry location that won’t drop below 40°F. A garage or basement usually works best! Every once in a while, check on your rhizomes to make sure they are not getting too dry. Give them a light spray of water if needed. But don’t keep them super moist. Throw out any rhizomes with rot. Don’t worry, not all of them will make it through the winter!
Best Uses
The garden with palm trees, hibiscus, birds of paradise, and bananas that I mentioned at the beginning is the perfect place to have cannas.
Include elephant ears, sedges, Florida shield ferns, viburnum, and calla lilies in your flower bed for a variety of colors, textures, and shapes.
If you’re looking for an easy way to spruce up your home, consider planting some flowers in containers. You can use a single type of flower or create a mixed arrangement with different kinds of plants. Some examples of plants that work well in containers include liriope, marsh marigolds, and bergenia.
If you have an area of wet ground that gets full or mottled sunlight, plant these. They make a great border around a pond or pool, providing privacy and shelter for koi and other aquatic creatures.
Maybe you love the architectural forms, or the miniature canna lilies that are perfect for pots. What is your favorite type of canna? Do you prefer the variegated types with their rainbow of colors, the soft green banana-like leaves with big, bright blooms, the architectural forms, or the miniature canna lilies?
whatever kind you like the most, they can be grown in many places and in many ways. Let us know what conditions you grow them in and what methods you use to keep them healthy.
We would love to see pictures of your garden in the comments section!
