Cannas (Canna Lilies)

Why Should I Grow Canna?

There are several reasons to consider growing canna in your garden:

Dramatic Visual Impact: With their large, colorful flowers and bold, tropical-looking foliage, cannas are great for creating a dramatic visual impact in your garden. They can add height and structure to your plantings and are especially effective in borders or as focal points.

Attract Pollinators: Cannas are loved by hummingbirds and various insects, including bees. Including them in your garden can help support these beneficial creatures and enhance biodiversity.

Low Maintenance: Canna lilies are quite easy to care for once established. They tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and prefer full sun but can handle partial shade. They’re also resistant to most pests and diseases.

Long Blooming Season: Cannas have a long blooming season, from early summer until the first frost, which provides color in the garden for an extended period when many other plants may not be in bloom.

Versatility: Canna lilies can be planted in the ground or grown in containers. They are suitable for a variety of gardening styles, including tropical, cottage, and contemporary gardens.

Deer and Rabbit Resistance: If you live in an area where deer and rabbits are a problem, cannas can be a good choice, as these animals typically avoid them.

In conclusion, cannas could be a great choice if you’re a novice gardener looking for an easy-to-grow, showy plant or a seasoned horticulturist looking for a unique addition to your collection.

Garden Design with Canna

Cannas are strikingly beautiful and versatile plants that can be used in various ways in a garden design. Here are some ways to incorporate them into your garden:

Specimen Plants: Thanks to their height and vibrant colors, cannas work wonderfully as specimen plants. They can be the focal point of a garden bed, instantly drawing the eye.

Tropical-Themed Gardens: Canna lilies are a perfect choice for a tropical or exotic-themed garden. Combine them with bold, colorful tropical plants like hibiscus, bananas, and elephant ears for a lush, jungle-like effect.

Back of Borders: Due to their height, they are an excellent choice for the back of a border or bed, where they can tower over shorter plants. They pair well with shorter, bushy plants that can fill in the mid-ground, such as salvia, coreopsis, or geraniums.

Water Gardens: Cannas are water-loving plants, and some varieties are suitable for planting at the water’s edge in a water garden or around a pond, where their reflection can double the pleasure of their brilliant blooms.

Container Planting: Cannas can be planted in large pots or containers. This is particularly useful if you live in a cooler climate and must bring the plants indoors over winter.

Mixed with Grasses: The bold leaves of the canna contrast nicely with ornamental grasses. Their tall, vertical form stands out against the soft, arching form of the grass.

Remember, cannas like full sun and prefer rich, well-drained soil. They do well in moist conditions, so consider that in your garden design.

Companion Plants

Cannas are incredibly versatile and can pair well with a variety of other plants. When choosing companion plants, consider plants that complement their bold foliage and vibrant blooms. Here are some good choices:

Salvias: Salvia plants are excellent companions for cannas. Their spiky flowers contrast well with the broad canna leaves, and they appreciate the same sunny conditions.

Dahlias: These beautiful, bushy plants offer a range of colors that can complement or contrast with cannas.

Zinnias: Zinnias add more vibrant color to the garden and their growth habit fills in around the tall canna stalks.

Crocosmia: With its arching stems and delicate, tubular flowers, crocosmia offers a nice contrast to the bold appearance of canna lilies.

Echinacea (Coneflowers): Echinacea has a completely different shape and texture with its daisy-like flowers and spiky central cones, making it a nice contrast to Canna Lilies. The purples and pinks of Echinacea flowers can also complement the bold colors of cannas.

Agapanthus: Also known as Lily of the Nile, Agapanthus offers globe-shaped clusters of blue or white flowers on tall, slender stems. This elegant, upright growth habit can echo the vertical lines of the Canna Lilies while adding a different form of flower shape.

Helenium: Heleniums, also known as Sneezeweed, produce bushy clumps of bright, daisy-like flowers in late summer, which can extend the blooming interest in the garden when paired with cannas. Their yellow, orange, or red flowers can create a hot color theme with the vibrant hues of cannas.

Elephant Ears (Colocasia): Elephant ears share similar requirements and aesthetics with cannas, with large, bold foliage that can match the drama of cannas.

Ornamental Grasses: The soft, feathery nature of ornamental grasses can offset the bold structure of cannas, adding movement and texture.

Hibiscus: Hibiscus flowers can echo the tropical feel of canna lilies, creating a lush, exotic corner in your garden.

Remember that cannas prefer full sun to partial shade, and a rich, moist soil, so companion plants should ideally have similar preferences.

Growing Tips

Growing canna lilies can be a rewarding experience, given their vibrant colors and tropical appeal. Here’s how you can grow them:

Sunlight: Canna lilies thrive in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight each day. They can tolerate partial shade, but full sun will promote the best blooms and leaf color.

Soil: The plants prefer a rich, well-draining soil. They appreciate organic matter, so mixing in compost or well-rotted manure can improve soil fertility.

Planting: Plant the  rhizomes in spring after the last frost, when the soil has warmed. Set the rhizome with the growing tips facing up, 4 inches (10 cm) deep. Planting distance varies with the size of your plants. Dwarf cannas should be spaced 18 inches (45 cm) apart, medium and standard cultivars about 2 feet (60 cm), and tall vigorous canna varieties about 3 feet (90 cm). Cover with soil and water thoroughly.

Watering: Cannas love water and do well in moist soil. Regular watering is important, especially in dry conditions. However, avoid waterlogging the soil as this can lead to rot.

Feeding: Cannas are heavy feeders. Use a balanced slow-release fertilizer at planting time and a liquid feed every 4 weeks during the growing season to promote vigorous growth and flowering.

Care: Remove spent flowers to encourage more blooms. In the fall, after the first frost has blackened the foliage, cut back the plants to about 6 inches (15 cm) and dig up the rhizomes in areas where they are not hardy. Store them in a cool, dry place for the winter. In warmer climates, cannas can be left in the ground over winter.

Pests/Diseases: Cannas can occasionally be affected by canna leaf rollers, aphids, Japanese beetles, or spider mites. Slugs and snails may chew on the foliage. Regular inspection of the plant can help in early detection and treatment.

Overall, with a bit of care and attention, cannas can add a dramatic and tropical flair to your garden.