I picked up a canna from the nursery on clearance in the fall, cut it back and left it in the pot in the greenhouse... now as spring approaches I am eyeballing the various cannas offered in those bulb displays at the stores and wondering if it might be fun to do a little grouping of them in pots this year, they're so marvelously dramatic. I've never had one before - any of you have thoughts on your favorite varieties (or the ones to avoid) and whether they are pest-beleaguered or not? What I've read says they like water and sun, so I should be able to do that. I like varigated leaves so the Tropicana looks promising... I have a "City of Portland" (pink) and "Wyoming" (orange) so far.
Cannas are a new love for me, I've only been growing them for about 3 years. I actually like the foliage more than the flowers. :-D I've been growing them in containers, and they seem to do quite well. Tropicana is a real gem but my favorite is Stuttgart . I received a small tuber in a trade last year, and it did really well all summer, then, in the fall, it suddenly failed I still don't know what went wrong. But I will have to find some to replace it, I can't be without it!! // Edit by Frank - Zuzu it seems the Stuttgart image was not showing Oops, sorry about that, maybe this link will work.
I have lots of canna's never had one die.My mom called them flags.I have yellow and red and one pinkiered sent me is a very pretty light orange are peach color I have some I got at the start of fall I have know idea what colors .If you have a water run or ditch you want to stop, plant cannas and they help stop the dirt from washing away and start to build up the dirt.Thats where I've planted some of mine.
I like Christ's Light or Bangkok, it goes by both names. It has varigated foliage and a soft yellow flower with a white stripe on each petal, resembleing a cross. It is a drawf, about 3 ft. tall: And Maudie Malcom: Maudie is about 4 ft. tall And Cleopatra, about 5 ft. tall: I like all pink cannas, I also have China Doll and a new pink I bought last year, and can't remember the name, LOL.
http://www.easytogrowbulbs.com/index.as ... stom&ID=63 http://www.stoygarden.com/3_Lilies.htm I'v put in these links for you Prim - one tells how to take care of cannas and the other has some beautiful piccies of cannas and other lilies.
I planted my canna many years before I really started gardening and paying attention to plant 'names' so I have no idea what mine are called....other than red cannas and yellow cannas. I have moved them a few times, divided and either replanted or given away probably 10 dozen over the last 5 years and all of this started with an original planting of 5 or 6 of each color. At least 6 hours of sun a day and water just like you would the rest of the garden and they will be fine. I leave mine in the ground year round with mulch on them and even after the winters when we have had freezes or ice they have come back with no problems the next spring. Mine did have leaf rollers a few years ago, the larve stage of the Brazillian Skipper butterfly but that was pretty minor. What I didn't realize is that they are a food plant, all parts can either be eaten by humans or used as animal fodder. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_(plant)
toni I'm like you I have no idea of their names.I didn'know you could eat them.I wouldn't but its fun to know.
Didn't know the part about them being a food plant either, do know about those darned leaf rollers and now I feel really bad about killing all those little Brazilian Skippers. I am hoping all of the freezes we have had this year have taken care of my leaf roller problems.
I only tried them once years ago and had no luck but after reading all of these posts I think I shall try again. I have avoided them thinking that they had to be dug up in the fall and I stay away from anything that can't winter over here in Michigan. How do they stand up to wind? I have problems with anything tall as we have a lot of wind.
Hi everyone...first post My favorite has to be the Bengal Tiger Cannas...I have a real weakness for variegated leaves, and this variety looks absolutely stunning. Throw in how well they thrive in sunlight (which, fortunately for me, is in abundance here in California), and you have a match made in heaven. My first go at cannas came last year in the spring...I put in 2 plants I had purchased at the nursery, which were about a foot high. Over the course of the summer they skyrocketed to nearly 6' tall! This winter I dug them up, divided them, and now will be able to pass some on to friends and family.
Hi BrainS, welcome to the Stew. ZuZu, you have gone and done it again, now I have to have a Stuttgart canna. Richard will be pleased with you also. LOL I also need a Phaison: http://www.plantdelights.com/Catalog/Fa ... 02456.html
Canna's grow like weeds here. I put them in all my ponds because the leaf rollers usually stay away. Maybe they don't like water. I just whack them back when they start looking ratty and after a time, must dig some out because they have spread to the neighbors yard and are threatening my front porch.
I love that Phaison.That would be a delightful coloring to brighten any yard.Beautiful Cajunbelle .I see why its a must have.
Wow, the phaison is amazing... I guess I better stick with the small handful I have for this year and see how they do first, but you can bet I'll be getting one of those if they do well. Amazing.
