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Flower Display Page: Canna.

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Family description Canna.

Canna plants are ideal as features in pots on the patio or as dot plants in large flowerbeds. The plants produce large elongated leaves that add a touch of the tropics to the English garden. They are well worth growing for their leaves alone, some of which can be red or variegated.

From the middle of summer, flower spikes appear, and the plant usually continues flowering until the end of October. Flower colours are normally red, pink or orange, but other shades exist.

The plants are not frost hardy and in most parts of the country they require winter protection.

Some varieties are marginal water plants and will grow very well on a shallow shelf in a pond. Most of the normal varieties offered will withstand some drought, but will grow and flower much better if given plenty of water at all times when growing.

The common name of Indian shot derives from the belief that Indians used the seeds of Canna as ammunition in their guns. The seeds are large, round and extremely hard, and would certainly make a hole in anything they hit at velocity.

General care.

Summer care is limited to feeding and watering the plants to keep them in good health.

At the end of October, cut the stems down low and move the crowns to a frost free place for the winter. If they are in pots, just move the pot to a sheltered position. Those planted in the ground need digging up for storage.

In early spring, check them over and start them into growth. Any in pots need careful checking that they are not too cramped as the roots will split the pots if restricted too much. All the crowns can be divided at this time if more stock is required. Once the temperatures rise, the Cannas can all be placed back in their summer display positions.

Plants are relatively pest and disease free.

Notes on Toxicity or Culinary usage.

Canna edulis has been a staple food of southern American natives and was grown purely for food. The cost of the rhizomes though would surely put this in the luxury bracket. Best left as a display flower.

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Variety: Ambassadour

Ambassador is a robust Canna growing up to 2 metres tall with lush plum coloured foliage. Flowers are orange-red coloured.

Species description. Canna generalis.

The typical garden Canna has been bred for centuries and now comes in a bewildering selection of varieties with variation in height from 45cm - 2mtr or more. Flower colour ranges from red or orange to yellow, pink, cream, off-white or sometimes a mixture. Variation of leaf colour is the most striking feature of Canna plants with colours ranging from all shades of green through purple to an almost jet black.