Canna - Garden Basics - Flower - Bulb
(Cannacea)
Cannas,
with their bold and exotic flowers and foliage, add a touch of
the tropics to you beds and borders. They also grow well in containers.
A tub of cannas makes a terrific accent for a sunny patio or porch.
Canna is native to tropical and subtropical areas. Most hybrids have been derived from C. flaccida, a native of Florida. The flowers have three sepals, most commonly green, three long petals, which are colored and up to five stamens which look like petals and are broad and colored. One of these stamens forms the lower lip of the flower. The foliage can be green or bronzy.
Cannas like full sun, ordinary garden soil and moisture during the growing season. Fertilize only when the plants are actively growing, and keep the withered blooms picked off.
Cannas are hardy to zones 7 or 8. In colder climates they should be lifted at the end of the season and stored in a frost-free place. The tubers need to be dug and dried in the sun a few hours and stored in a cool (40-50° F) moderately dry (30% humidity) cellar or storage area. The tubers can be stored in dry sphagnum moss, vermiculite, or sand. They may also be placed on wire racks so air can circulate freely. No frost must reach the tubers and they must not be too warm or dry. A cellar suitable for Irish potatoes is about right for cannas.
Plant in the spring after danger of frost has passed. Start new plants indoors for quicker blooms. Space low-growing varieties 10 to 12 inches apart and taller ones up to 24 inches apart. Plant 4 to six inches deep. If overwintered in the ground, lift and divide every three to four years. Leave 3 to 4 eyes on each division for strong, sturdy plants.
Canna can also be started from seed. To prepare the seed, nick the outer shell with a knife or soak in water for 24 hours. Seeds can be sown indoors or outdoors in the spring after the soil warms. Plant the seeds about one inch deep. Take care when transplanting as the roots are very brittle.
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