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Canna × hybrida

garden canna

Cannaceae

Hybrid of garden origin; parents from tropical Central and South America

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies Attracts Hummingbirds Deer Resistant Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 7–11

Overview

Canna x hybrida is a rhizomatous perennial reaching 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) tall and 1.5-3 feet (45-90 cm) wide, with thick upright stalks rising from fleshy underground rhizomes. The large paddle-shaped leaves are 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) long and range from green to bronze, purple, or striped depending on the cultivar. Flowers are borne in spikes at the stalk tips; each bloom is irregular, 2-5 inches (5-13 cm) across, in red, orange, yellow, pink, or bicolor, and opens in succession from summer until frost. The flowers develop from broad, petal-like stamens rather than true petals. Growth is fast in heat and full sun. In zones below about 7 the rhizomes are killed by hard freezes and are lifted and stored, or mulched heavily, over winter. Canna leaf rollers, rust, and viral diseases can disfigure the foliage. The clump expands quickly and needs dividing every few years.

Native Range

A hybrid group of garden origin not found in the wild. Its parent species in the genus Canna spp. are native to tropical and subtropical Central and South America, where they grow in moist, open ground, along watercourses, and in disturbed sites.

Suggested Uses

Used in summer borders, large containers, and at pond and water-garden edges, spaced 18-24 inches (45-60 cm) apart. Massed for a tropical effect or grown as a single tall accent. The cold sensitivity and the work of lifting and storing rhizomes are trade-offs in cold-winter regions.

How to Identify

Recognized by tall, unbranched leafy stalks, large paddle-shaped leaves up to 2 feet (60 cm) long, and spikes of irregular flowers built from broad, petal-like stamens. The combination of banana-like foliage and bright, asymmetrical flowers separates cannas from true lilies and from Hedychium spp. gingers, which have narrower leaves and tubular flowers.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height3' - 6'

Width/Spread1'6" - 3'

Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years

Colors

Flower Colors

red

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~16 weeks

Summer Fall

Flowers open from early summer until the first frost, with peak bloom in mid- to late summer. Each spike flowers over several weeks as new buds open above the spent ones. Removing finished flower spikes prompts side shoots to bloom and extends the season.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Red, orange, yellow, pink, or bicolor

Foliage Description

Green to bronze, purple, or striped

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 6.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1 year

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Grow in full sun in rich, moist, well-drained soil; cannas use ample water and feeding during the warm season. Water regularly so the soil stays moist, and feed monthly during growth. In zones 7 and colder, lift the rhizomes after the first frost blackens the foliage and store them in a cool, dry, frost-free place, or mulch deeply where marginally hardy. Slugs and canna leaf rollers chew the leaves, and rust and canna viruses spot or streak them. Divide crowded clumps in spring, leaving 2-3 growing points per piece.

Pruning

Cut spent flower spikes back to the next bud or side shoot to keep flowering through the season. After frost, cut stalks to the ground in zones where the rhizomes overwinter in place. Remove disease-spotted leaves to slow rust and leaf rollers.

Pruning Schedule

fall