Canna lily

Sun

Full sun; tolerates light shade in hot climates, but flowers less freely.

Water

Keep evenly moist during active growth, watering deeply when the surface begins to dry. Reduce watering as growth stops; dormant rhizomes must not sit in cold, saturated soil.

Soil

Rich, moisture-retentive soil with good drainage. Improve poor soil with compost; avoid waterlogged winter sites.

Height

3-8 ft (0.9-2.4 m)

Spread

2-3 ft (0.6-0.9 m), widening over time as rhizomes spread

Flowers

Summer to autumn, or for much of the year in frost-free tropical climates; usually red or orange-red, sometimes yellow or bicoloured.

Foliage

Large, broad, paddle-shaped green leaves clasp upright stems. Frost kills the leaves; growth may remain evergreen in frost-free climates.

Growth

Fast in warm weather with adequate moisture and nutrients.

Care needed

Medium

• Plant after frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed.
• Water regularly through summer; check containers daily during hot weather.
• Apply a balanced fertiliser according to its label during active growth.
• Mulch to conserve moisture; where rhizomes remain outdoors through winter, add a thick protective mulch after the foliage dies.
• Lift rhizomes before hard freezes in colder areas and store frost-free in barely moist compost at about 41-50°F (5-10°C).
• Divide crowded clumps in spring, keeping at least one healthy growing bud on each piece.

Pruning. Remove faded flower clusters without cutting off unopened buds; once a stem has finished flowering, cut it near the base. After frost blackens the foliage, cut stems back to about 4-6 in (10-15 cm) before mulching or lifting the rhizomes.

Early spring

Check stored rhizomes, discard soft or rotten pieces, and pot up healthy ones somewhere warm and bright.

Spring

Divide established clumps as new shoots begin to grow.

Late spring

Harden off indoor-grown plants and plant out after the last frost, once the soil is warm.

Summer

Water consistently, feed during active growth, and check young leaves for slugs and snails.

Summer to autumn

Remove spent flowers and fully finished flowering stems.

Late autumn

After frost damages the leaves, cut back and either mulch well in mild areas or lift for frost-free storage.

Winter

Check stored rhizomes occasionally; prevent both shrivelling and wet rot.

• Place behind shorter plants in a sunny hot-colour border for strong foliage and vertical flower stems.
• Use in large patio containers with coleus and trailing sweet potato vine for contrasting leaf shapes.
• Plant beside a pond in moist ground above the waterline for a lush effect.
• Repeat clumps with dahlias and ornamental grasses to give a summer border structure and rhythm.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Architectural minimal, Hot border, Victorian and Luxury resort.

Plant it with: Dahlias, Coleus, Sweet potato vine, Purple fountain grass, Scarlet sage and Elephant ears.

Wildlife: Flowers can attract hummingbirds where these occur, as well as some nectar-feeding insects. Leaves may support specialist caterpillars in warmer regions.

• Slugs and snails chew emerging shoots and leaves: inspect at dusk, remove hiding places, and use wildlife-conscious controls where necessary.
• Canna rust produces orange-brown pustules and damaged foliage: remove affected leaves, improve spacing, and water the soil rather than the foliage.
• Canna viruses can cause streaked, mottled or distorted leaves and poor growth: remove infected plants, do not propagate from them, and obtain healthy replacement stock.
• Rhizome rot develops in cold, wet soil or damp storage: improve drainage, keep dormant rhizomes barely moist, and discard soft or foul-smelling pieces.

Not known to be toxic to cats, dogs, horses or people, including the leaves, flowers and rhizomes. The very hard seeds are a choking hazard and should not be given to children or pets.

Where it spreads. Spreads by rhizomes and sometimes seed, forming dense patches in warm, wet places. It is an invasive environmental weed in parts of eastern Australia, including Queensland and New South Wales, and in South Africa. Check local guidance before planting and never dump rhizomes near waterways or bushland.

• Garden canna (Canna × generalis)

  Garden hybrids usually have much larger, broader, more ruffled flowers and may have bronze or striped foliage. Small-flowered hybrids can be difficult to distinguish from Canna indica.

• Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)

  Has arrow-shaped leaves and a white, funnel-shaped spathe surrounding a central spike, rather than paddle-shaped leaves and canna flowers.

• White ginger lily (Hedychium coronarium)

  Has narrower leaves arranged along leafy stems and fragrant, white, butterfly-like flowers.

Canna comes from the Greek word for a reed, while the common name Indian shot refers to the hard, round, pellet-like seeds.

Propagation. Divide rhizomes in spring, retaining a healthy bud and roots on each section. Seed is also possible: carefully nick the hard seed coat away from the embryo, soak in warm water, then sow in warm conditions. Plants sold as Canna indica may be hybrids, whose seedlings will not necessarily resemble the parent.

Accepted botanical name

Canna indica

In the US and Canada

Introduced in Hawaii, the lower 48 states, Pacific Basin, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands.

Native range

Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Bahamas, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, Brazil South, Brazil Southeast, Brazil West-Central, Colombia and Costa Rica.

Measured

Average height 116 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0), USDA PLANTS and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.