The Main Plant entry for Cannas (Canna)

This database entry exists to show plant data and photos that apply generically to all Cannas.

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb
Life cycle: Perennial
Sun Requirements: Full Sun
Full Sun to Partial Shade
Flowers: Showy
Flower Time: Summer
Late summer or early fall
Underground structures: Rhizome
Propagation: Other methods: Division
Offsets
Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger

Image
Common names
  • Canna
  • Canna Lily

Photo Gallery

Date: 2018-10-14
Seed pod before its maturation.

Date: 2015-08-05
#pollination

Date: 2015-08-21

Date: 2015-08-05
#pollination
Location: My patio zone 9 Louisiana
Date: 2018-10-24
Believed to be 'Chamois', it's dwf. pastel pink, peach & yellow
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2019-06-22

Date: 2012-10-21
Location: Kyle, TX
Date: 2020-10-09
Easy, easy, easy to grow
Location: Temple, Texas
Date: 2021-09-04
Unknown red with yellow throat; shipped in error for a peach-colo
Photo by hlutzow
Location: Home garden
Date: 2020-07-24
By KYgal
Location: Kyle, TX
Date: 2020-06-07
Location: San Antonio, TX
Date: 2019-10-16
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-07-07
Grown from seed
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Date: A long, long, long, long, long time ago....
Location: Ormond Beach, FL zone 9a
Date: 2018-05-08
Beautiful 6 foot tall cannas in Ormond Beach, FL
Location: Kyle, TX
Date: 2023-03-12
How fun to see the two colors together
Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
Bloomed 12 months of the year. Eventually got to be 12' tall.
Location: Sebastian,  Florida
Date: 2023-10-21
Photo by hlutzow
Location: Kalama, wa
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: South Carolina
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-06-01
Location: Cary, North Carolina private garden
Date: 5/15/23 passalong canna starting to bloom, this one will bloom all Summer
Location: South Australia Our Garden
Date: 2017-11-25
Bought as Cannova Lily
Location: Tenterfield NSW Australia
Date: 2014-02-27
C. 'Decedance' .. my own DWARF glauca hybrid 2014 .. C. Glauca x
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (April 2022)
Date: 2022-04-09
Location: z5 MA
Date: 2011-09-13
Photo by dyzzypyxxy
Location: Parchur, Andhra Pradesh, India
Date: 2024-02-01
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2017-05-09

Date: 2011-05-31 
Seedpods of unknown Canna
Photo by Paul2032
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.

Date: 2012-05-29
Courtesy Outsidepride
  • Uploaded by vic
Photo by sedumzz
Location: all photos from my gardens
Date: 2018-06-25

Date: c. 1954
photo from the 1954 catalog, Wayside Gardens, Mentor, Ohio
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2016-08-13

Date: 2020-04-18
Location: My garden, KY
Date: 22 July, 2023
Grown from seeds collected from Canna 'Tama-Tulipa'. Thanks loves
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2016-05-14
Location: DISCLAIMER: This is an old photo from an old phone. I don't know why, but the photos look "deep fried". sorry about that.
Location: Gardenfish garden 
Date: October 7 2021
I didn’t know canna produced seed!
Location: Northern NJ
Date: 2016-07-31 
Beautiful cannas!
Photo by stone
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: 7/15/2011
Canna seed pods
Location: Tenterfield NSW Australia
Date: 2013-06-13
Canna Seeds .. Close-up.
Location: Longwood Gardens, Kennet Square, Pennsylvania USA
Date: 2019-10-04
Photo by dirtdorphins

Date: 2018-05-26
Photo by NJBob
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-09-08
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-18
Purchased as \"Pink water Canna\".  Photo taken in the afternoon.
Location: Smith-Gilbert Gardens, Georgia, USA
Date: Late August (Autumn)
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-07-06
Canna seedling
Location: zone 8 North Central, Fl.
Date: 2017-12-06

Date: 2008-09-20 
Unknown Canna, can't remember if it ever had a tag.
Location: Longwood Gardens in southeast PA
Date: 2014-10-03
a collection of mixed canna cultivars
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-07-03
Photo by sedumzz
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Home
Date: 2011-10-09
tuber of a tall canna
Photo by hlutzow

Date: 2014-07-27
Photo by stilldew
Location: Lutz, FL
Date: 2016-04-28
For sale at Lowe's as "Tropical Series" but did not specify which
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Date: 2012-09-12
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden) pond
Date: May 31, 2022
Canna lily #53 nn; RAB p 316, 42-1-1. LHB page 290, 40-1-1, " Lat
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Test garden 
Date: 2017-07-14
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Zone 9 Louisiana in my backyard
Date: 2018-05-27
I call it 'Tall Red' because it gets 8 to 9 feet by Fall

Date: 2014-08-19
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden)
Date: July 17, 2022
Canna lily #53 nn; RAB p 316, 42-1-1. LHB page 290, 40-1-1, " Lat
Location: in my garden
Date: 2017-06-24

Date: 2015-09-01
Location: My Property Sunset Zone 23 Sub-Tropical Southern California
Date: 2010-04-28
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-09-10
No ID, tag lost long ago ...
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-09-08
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2017-07-19
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2017-07-19

Date: 2021-09-04
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2017-07-19
Location: Garland, TX
Date: 2017-07-19
Location: Nita garden 
Date: 2016-07-05
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-18
Modan   Butterfly
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Lanape
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: Charleston, SC
Date: 2013-06-09
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2011-05-21
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2012-07-27
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-09-17
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Maude Malcomb
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Crimson Beauty
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-07-02
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-05-28
Photo by sedumzz
Photo by sedumzz
Location: Coastal San Diego County 
Date: 2018-03-30

Date: c. 1941
photo of Cannas 1 'Yellow King Humbert', 2 'The President', 3 'Ci

Date: 2015-08-02
Location: Opp, AL
Date: 2012-10-12
Damage from leaf roller caterpillars.

Date: 2015-08-02
Location: Central Kansas (Zone 6b)
Date: 2016-08-06
Location: sarasota florida
Date: 2022-08-20
tall growing salmon
Location: sarasota florida
Date: 2022-07-01
almost white .........
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2016-09-14

Date: 2014-07-27
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2014-08-20
Another bloom on a canna seedling
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-06-03
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Location: unknown
Canna Seed Morphology
Location: Vander Veer Botanical Gardens - Davenport, Iowa
Date: 7-1-12

Date: 2015-09-15
Photo by sedumzz
Location: my garden 
Date: 2013-10-18
Photo by Hamwild
Location: Fairfax, Virginia (Outdoors)
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-20
Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2011-07-08
Location: Eckert's Greenhouse, Sterling Hts, MI
Date: 2010-08-02
Location: Eckert's Greenhouse, Sterling Hts, MI
Date: 2010-08-02
Location: DISCLAIMER: This is an old photo from an old phone. I don't know why, but the photos look "deep fried". sorry about that.

Date: 2014-08-27

Date: 2014-08-27

Date: 2015-09-01

Date: 2011-08-17
Location: Botanical garden of Crete
Date: 2022-06-01
Photo by NJBob
Location: Central Kansas (Zone 6b)
Date: 2016-07-26
Location: My garden back
Location: Dayton, TN
Date: 2013-07-17
Location: Jacksonville, Fl.
Date: End of July
Location: Chapin, SC
Date: 2016-09-23
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2013-07-25
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-18
Purchased as \"Pink water Canna\".  Photo taken in the afternoon.
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-03
'Pink Water Canna'  leaf up close-  28-32 inches tall - up to 10\
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-06-06
Noid canna seeds soaking in water.
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2013-06-03
'Pink Water Canna' -  28-32 inches tall - up to 10\" deep in wate

Date: 2004-10-22
Eureka
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-05-21
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-24
Cleopatra
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
City Of Portland
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-07-28
Location: Wayneboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Bengal Tiger
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2013-07-01
Photo by dyzzypyxxy
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-06-28
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2018-03-29
Canna Lily 001
Location: Sebastian, Florida
Date: 2016-09-17
Location: Kalama, Wa
Date: 2009-07-25
  • Uploaded by Joy
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Strpped Beauty
Location: Indiana  zone 5 Purdue garden
Date: 2016-09-25
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Wyoming
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-22
Orange Punch
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2008-09-21
Richard Wallace
Location: Waynesboro MS
Date: 2004-10-23
Red King
Location: my garden 
Date: 2013-07-06
Location: Wayneboro MS
Date: 2004-10-23
President
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2013-08-09 
This canna is 6 feet tall!
Location: Quad Cities Botanical Garden, Rock Island, Il.
Date: 2011-07-02

Date: 2013-09-12
Photo by stilldew

Date: 2014-07-27
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: 2013-07-16
Location: Sahuarita, AZ
Date: 2022-06-10
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Date: 2012-09-12
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Date: 2012-09-18
Location: Potohar, Pakistan.
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: July 5th, 2014
Location: Middle Tennessee
Date: Sep 23, 2011 7:10 AM
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-06-13
Close up of seedlings
Location: Plano, TX
Date: 2013-06-13
Some took 4 days to germinate.
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-08-28
Location: Southern Pines, NC (Boyd House garden) pond
Date: May 31, 2022
Canna lily #53nn; RAB p 316, 42-1-1. LHB page 290, 40-1-1, " Lati
Location: central Illinois
Date: 2015-02-19
Location: Botanical Gardens of the State of Georgia...Athens, Ga
Date: 2019-07-28
Yellow Canna Lily 018
Location: Daytona Beach, Florida
Date: 2015-07-06
Location: Hidden Hills CA zone 10b
Date: 2014-07-20
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-08-17
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-08-17
Location: Beaver Creek Farm, Georgia
Date: 8-28-2017
white canna sport from Bengal Tiger Canna
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Date: 2015-08-17
Photo by paulaf

Date: 2014-08-19
Photo by Paul2032
Photo by Paul2032
Location: N. Fl.
Date: 2017-04-09
Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2011-07-08

Recently planted, experienced sunburn
Location: in my garden
Date: 2017-06-24

Date: 2015-09-01

Date: 2014-08-19

Date: 2014-08-19
Location: Central Kansas (Zone 6b)
Date: 2016-07-26
Location: Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis
Date: 2017-08-09
Location: In my zone 8 garden
Date: June 18th, 2014
This plant is tagged in:
Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image Image

Comments:
  • Posted by ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Sep 4, 2020 1:17 PM concerning plant:
    There are supposed to be about 25 species of Canna, which are native to tropical America. Wild Cannas tend to have more narrow flower petals while the garden canna are hybrids having wider petals. The numerous cultivars have flowers of red, orange, yellow, creams, and pinks, and some are bicolored. The leaves are green or red-purple and can have white or yellow stripes, even with orange areas. They like moist, rich soils and can be grown as shallow water plants. When used as annual flowers in northern climates, the big tan tubers can be dug up in late fall when the foliage is killed by frost, and the tubers can be stored in peatmoss or similar material in a cool indoor place for the winter. Then grown plants again in the spring. Bumblebees love the flowers. Unfortunately, the Japanese Beetle also likes to eat holes in the flowers. The various cultivars can range in height from 1.5 to 8 feet high. The richer the soil and the more rain result in bigger cannas.
  • Posted by dyzzypyxxy (Sarasota, Fl) on Aug 24, 2014 2:13 PM concerning plant:
    Here in Florida, and I'd imagine in other warm, humid climates, Cannas are prone to rust in the late summer. This is very unsightly and not healthy for the plants. It is also very hard to control. Good air circulation is a basic thing to remember when planting Cannas. If you do start to see rusty spots on the leaves, jump on them immediately and remove all leaves showing the fungus. Housekeeping is the best medicine here. Be sure to bag up the infected leaves and throw out with the trash. Don't compost them.
  • Posted by Newyorkrita (North Shore, Long Island, NY ) on Sep 12, 2013 5:21 PM concerning plant:
    I love the lush tropical look of Cannas, both their flowers and their foliage. Unfortunately, they are not winter hardy here in my garden. I get tired of planting them each spring and lifting them for storage each fall, so I have not had Cannas now for a few years.
  • Posted by Marilyn (Kentucky - Zone 6a) on May 20, 2013 3:25 AM concerning plant:
    Taken from wikipedia's page at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C...

    "The plants are large tropical and subtropical perennial herbs with a rhizomatous rootstock. The broad, flat, alternate leaves, that are such a feature of this plant, grow out of a stem in a long narrow roll and then unfurl. The leaves are typically solid green but some cultivars have glaucose, brownish, maroon, or even variegated leaves.

    The flowers are typically red, orange, or yellow or any combination of those colours, and are aggregated in inflorescences that are spikes or panicles (thyrses). Although gardeners enjoy these odd flowers, nature really intended them to attract pollinators collecting nectar and pollen, such as bees, hummingbirds and bats. The pollination mechanism is conspicuously specialized. Pollen is shed on the style while still in the bud, and in the species and early hybrids some is also found on the stigma because of the high position of the anther, which means that they are self-pollinating. Later cultivars have a lower anther, and rely on pollinators alighting on the labellum and touching first the terminal stigma, and then the pollen."

Plant Events from our members
piksihk On March 21, 2022 Bloomed
red
piksihk On May 18, 2021 Bloomed
Peachy pink
piksihk On May 16, 2019 Bloomed
peachy pink canna in back pecan tree
piksihk On July 14, 2017 Bloomed
piksihk On August 1, 2016 Bloomed
collecteds seedsfrom previous blooms; still blooming
piksihk On May 11, 2016 Transplanted
HW
piksihk On December 12, 2015 Harvested
Seeds collected
piksihk On September 16, 2015 Bloomed
dragonfetti On February 25, 2015 Potted up
Four tubers for placing in the pond.
Seedfork On April 22, 2016 Bloomed
Red Blooms
Seedfork On April 23, 2015 Miscellaneous Event
First buds on canna forming.
MrsBinWY On January 21, 2018 Seeds sown
Filed & soaked descendants of: 'Confetti' (8); 'Cannova Yellow' (12); 'Bronze Scarlet' (8) from ishareflowers
MrsBinWY On February 7, 2017 Seeds germinated
1st radicals emerged 2-7-17; potted 7 seeds on 2-8-17; 2 more on 2-10-17; 1st 7 seedlings all up on 2-16-17; other 2 seedlings up on 2-18-17; will probably give up on the last seed (by poking it into a pot with another seeding, that is); on 3-9-17, the seedling from the seed I gave up on was about 1" tall
MrsBinWY On February 4, 2017 Seeds sown
file, germinate in water, 10 seeds from 2015 garden
tabbycat On March 1, 2024 Plant emerged
New growth has started
tabbycat On February 1, 2023 Transplanted
Planted in a large pot so it grows better.
tabbycat On February 20, 2022 Plant emerged
cleaned off all dead brown leaves & found new growth
tabbycat On April 21, 2019 Bloomed
1st flower of 2019.NOTE: 2nd flush of flowers started 6 - 22.
tabbycat On March 1, 2019 Plant emerged
Mild winter so they got a head start on new leaves sprouting out. 12" plant now.
carlissa904 On April 26, 2019 Obtained plant
April 26, 2019: Obtained plant (got some rhizomes and small shoots from the Gainesville Garden Club meeting)
antsinmypants On June 12, 2021 Transplanted
Into flower garden 2
antsinmypants On March 30, 2021 Plant emerged
2 up.
antsinmypants On March 26, 2021 Seeds sown
Indoors under lights. 4
WebTucker On June 28, 2022 Bloomed
paleohunter On June 20, 2022 Seeds sown
mevl On November 15, 2022 Winterized
How Do I Dig Cannas For Overwintering?
Use a digging fork to gently lever the clump out of the ground. As Cannas are shallowly rooted, this will be easier than you think! If you are storing Cannas grown in containers, you can either store the roots, container and all, or remove the clump from the container and proceed in the same way as with garden-grown Cannas, depending upon your storage space. Container-grown Cannas will need to be replanted in fresh soil next season for best results.

Separate the rhizomes with your hands. Be gentle, but do not worry if they break. The fleshy roots will dry up during storage, so again, handle carefully, but don't worry too much about breakage.

If they have been in garden soil, do not wash the rhizomes, as doing so invites disease problems during storage. Instead, remove the soil and lightly brush them off. However, if they were located in a boggy condition or in a water feature (Cannas make great pond plants!), cleaning off the muck and detritus from a long season is advised.

Cut off the old foliage stalks 1-2 inches above the rhizome with a clean knife. Then, carefully inspect the rhizomes for rot or animal damage and discard those with signs of disease. If it's a large rhizome, you can use a clean knife to cut off rotten or damaged areas to clean, white flesh. Remember, different cultivars of Canna look the same naked. If you're digging several types at the same time, put them into large, labelled trugs (even if it's just a scrap piece of paper thrown in with them). Before you store them later, you can do a better job of labeling.

How Do I Store Cannas For Overwintering?
Now comes the easiest part of all – preparing them for storage. Traditional methods advocate placing them in containers or bags filled with slightly dampened peat moss or wood shavings, but for those short on time or either of those materials, Cannas can also be overwintered simply by placing the sorted rhizomes into heavy-duty garbage bags and storing in the correct conditions (see below). The garbage bags will help maintain a good level of humidity without adding extra moisture.

However you decide to store them, make sure to label bags or pots of rhizomes carefully with tags. You can also use a Sharpie to write directly on the rhizome itself. You'll thank yourself when spring comes and those rhizomes start sprouting.

Where Do I Store Cannas For Overwintering?
Find a cool, dark space that stays above freezing but below 55 throughout the winter. Non-fluctuating temperatures are best as they prevent early sprouting. Some great storage places to consider are:

Cellars
Crawlspaces
Unfinished basements
Unheated garages
Deep cold frames
Avoid Outbuildings, barns, potting sheds, etc., as they often tend to fall below freezing in the deep winter.

Directly after storing the rhizomes, and particularly during a warmer autumn, you may see a certain amount of early re-sprouting. It's safe to ignore this but means your temperatures need to be a bit cooler. If plants are continuing to re-sprout adjust the temperatures or store somewhere cooler, as this will eventually exhaust the rhizome's resources.

When Can I Replant Cannas In The Garden?
As temperatures increase and spring returns, re-inspect your rhizomes – throw away any that are rotten or diseased, and if some are beginning to sprout in storage, lightly dampen with water to replenish resources. Cannas are tropical warm-season plants. They will not only be harmed by planting them in the garden too early, but they will not grow vigorously until temperatures are warmer.

At this point you have two choices: Either wait for the right time in the garden to plant, or force them into earlier strong growth using a cold frame or greenhouse. Whichever route you take, plant the rhizomes 3-4 inches deep in rich soil approximately 1' apart with a small amount of balanced fertilizer. Lay the rhizome horizontally in the soil with any bud swellings (eyes) or new shoots pointing up. Water well.

Natural Timing For Canna Rhizomes
Keep your storage areas cool, and when all danger of frost has past, re-plant outside or in containers in rich soil with a small amount of balanced fertilizer. Foliage will take a while to re-sprout, but will be ready for your summer garden. If you are planting in a water feature, make sure to cover the soil of the container with at least 2 inches of pea gravel to keep soil firmly in the pot.

Forced Timing For Canna Rhizomes
Approximately 4-5 weeks before the last frost, replant the rhizomes in small temporary containers (perhaps 2 per gallon pot), with fresh soil and a small amount of balanced fertilizer. Keep them protected in cold frames or an unheated greenhouse with plenty of light. As temperatures naturally warm outside, you will begin to see sprouting above the soil line. Keep them well watered and do not forget to check daytime temperatures in your cold frame or greenhouse. Temperatures can rise quickly and damage the emerging foliage.

When all danger of frost is past, replant the Cannas in containers or garden beds at the same soil level they were in the pots. They should be well-leafed out and ready for the season ahead!
» Post your own event for this plant

Discussion Threads about this plant
Thread Title Last Reply Replies
Canna glauca.... by wcgypsy Jun 18, 2013 5:12 PM 1
Dwarf canna by dyzzypyxxy May 23, 2014 4:02 PM 0
Dwarf white by dyzzypyxxy Aug 24, 2014 4:24 PM 2
C. 'Decedance' 2014 by FleudeLisCanna Dec 25, 2014 10:10 PM 0
Canna Seeds .. Close-up by FleudeLisCanna Jan 1, 2015 11:26 PM 2
The Two Different Low Growing Red Plants In Your Pic by Marilyn Sep 20, 2016 10:50 AM 3
Beautiful wall behind? by purpleinopp Jul 29, 2021 9:48 AM 9
Looks like a bird head by purpleinopp Jul 8, 2022 8:09 AM 4

« Add a new plant to the database

« The Plants Database Front Page

Today's site banner is by Zoia and is called "Volunteer"

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.