did you know?

In the early 18th century, a French diplomat, Monsieur Année, began hybridizing cannas that he discovered during his post in Valparaiso, Chile. By the late 19th century, the French, among the early devotees of the canna, used them extensively in display gardens.

general maintenance:

Deadhead spent blooms to promote flowering. In Zones 6 and colder, lift rhizomes after first frost, and store indoors in a cool, dark, frost-free (40°F?50°F) place in sand or peat.

pests/diseases:

Cannas are relatively carefree.

how to sow/plant:

Start indoors, planting rhizomes 4 inches deep in individual pots about 4?6 weeks before last frost. Choose a sunny site and amend with compost or well-rotted manure, and after last frost, set plants 1 foot apart. Or plant rhizomes directly in the garden 4?6 inches deep, at a distance equal to their mature spread after frost.

water and fertilize:

Maintain soil moisture all season. Cannas thrive when well watered, and tolerate boggy soil. Apply slow-release fertilizer at planting, or use a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer biweekly, following label directions.

garden hint:

The tropical canna thrives in full sun with abundant water. Try planting the rhizomes at the edge of a pond or water garden.

features:

• Attractive Flowers
• Attractive Foliage
• Disease Resistant
• Wet Tolerant

garden uses:

• Containers
• Flowerbed borders
• Naturalizing

other uses:

• Cut Flower

combine with:

castor bean Mexican sunflower and red fountain grass ( 'Rubrum') in the border.