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Canna


 

Canna generalis   (CAN-ah jen-er-ALL-is)

COMMON NAMES: Canna, Canna lily, Arrowroot

Perennial   Sun   Height 2 - 6'   Spread 3 - 6'   Spacing 18 – 24"

 

HABIT: Coarse textured perennial with flamboyant flowers in orange, red, gold, red, white, white and combinations. It spreads from underground stems (rhizomes). Leaves and flowers are usually large. The most popular is dwarf red. Dies to ground at frost, returns the next spring.

 

 

CULTURE: Full sun, loose soil, plenty of water and healthy amounts of fertilizer for good blooms. Cut stems to ground after freeze. Moderately tolerant of wet feet.

 


  Cannas are lovely as a background in flower beds.
  Photo U of Mississippi Extension.

 

USES: Use as a background flower or in large open beds or borders.

 

PROBLEMS: Wind damage, coarseness. Can become somewhat invasive. Canna leafrollers are small worms that roll and stick canna leaves together, then eat their way out of the bundle leaving a pattern of holes in the larger open leaf.

 


  Photos by Maggie Dwyer

 

 

NOTES: Easy to grow but too coarse for most residential gardens. Native to the tropics. The red foliage selections tend to have smaller flowers but are better-looking plants.

 

 

 

 

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