INFORMATION ABOUT CANNA…
Image by Sids1 Canna is a beautiful tropical flower that comes in all shades of red, pink, yellow, orange and many combinations of those colors. Canna plants are a member of the Cannaceae (Cannas) family and is also commonly referred to as Indian shot or Canna lily. The scientific name for the common Canna is Canna x Generalis.
Canna flowers bare a strong resemblance to the gladiola flower and grow on erect stems that can reach anywhere from four to six feet high and two feet around. They have broad, usually green, leaves that are pointed and somewhat paddle-shaped making the canna look a bit like a banana plant minus the trunk. Certain cultivars of the canna plant have bronze, purple or purple veined leaves.
The canna flower is made up of three petals, three sepals and three petal-like stamens. When the flowers have gone they are followed by a capsule of seeds. The seeds bare a striking resemblance to bird-shot which explains why the canna is sometimes called Indian shot.
Canna flowers produce an elegant display with each individual flower reaching nearly five inches across.
Canna plants are typically only hardy in zones 8 through 10 but can be planted in colder regions with a little extra care. The canna is considered a tender perennial in most areas and will need to be mulched heavily to protect it from cold weather or dug out of the ground for over-wintering in zones 7 and above. It is recommended to dig them up in order to avoid a winter rotting problem.
The canna flower is grown from Rhizomatous roots. Canna is a summer-flowering plant and, with care, will return to your garden, year after year.
Plant Canna rhizomes, in rich moist soil, in a sunny location in your garden after all danger of frost has passed for your area. When it comes to canna, the more sun the better. They are extremely heat resistant but thrive on heavy watering and are a great plant for any wet spots in your garden.
The canna rhizome needs to be covered with at least four inches of soil for it to produce properly. Fertilize your canna plant monthly during the growing season and deadhead (remove spent flowers) as needed to keep it growing and healthy.
Canna flowers make a lovely tall accent in your garden. They can also be planted in mass plantings, in mixed beds and borders, or in large containers. The canna is a must for any tropical motif garden and looks great when planted amongst differing cultivars of palm trees. They are easy to propagate by simply splitting the rhizomes before replanting in the spring.
Canna plants are a favorite food of the rolling leaf caterpillar and without attention, those creepy crawlies can devastate your plant. Remove them at first sighting.
Canna rhizomes are edible, with a taste resembling the sweet potato. They were once grown as a staple crop in Peru and Equador. Today canna is still grown in parts of Asia for the making of cellophane noodles.