Origin: South and Central America
Flower color: white, orange, yellow, pink, red, bicolor.
Flowering period: July-October
Average plant height: 32 – 80 inches
Planting depth to base of bulbs: just deep enough to cover with soil
Spacing between bulbs: 12 inches
Type of bulb: rhizome
Light requirements: sun is essential (full morning sun)
Landscape uses: containers and borders
Canna lilies (indian shot) are tender subtropical rhizomatous plants. Most often used in pots and containers, they are enjoying a resurgence in popularity as an important summer garden plant. Here, they are divided into three groups: tall, bronze-leaved varieties; tall, green-leaved varieties, and dwarf varieties. Their inflorescences are up to 5 inches across and their leaves are very decorative. Canna lilies will bloom longer when faded flowers are removed.
In warm climatic zones, canna lilies are perennials. In other areas, the rhizomes should be lifted and stored in sand or peat.
Principal varieties
Green-leaved varieties
- ‘City of Portland’ – pink
- ‘Richard Wallace’ – yellow
- ‘Rosemond Coles’ – red, yellow-edged
- ‘President’ – bright red
Dwarf (20-32 inches) green-leaved varieties
- ‘Orchid’ – pink
- ‘Lucifer’ – red
- ‘Primrose Yellow’ – yellow
Bronze-leaved varieties
- ‘Roi Humbert’ – orange/red
- ‘Wyoming’ – orange
- ‘Black Knight’ – red
