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Plants that fill a similar niche:
Canna Flower
Eupatorium perfoliatum Form
Typha latifolia Form
Canna americanallis var. variegata has some common insect problems:
Japanese Beetle
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants

Bengal Tiger Canna Canna americanallis var. variegata

Other Common Name(s):

Phonetic Spelling
KAN-uh a-mer-ih-KAY-na-liss
Description

Canna Americanallis, or Bengal Tiger, is a Canna cultivar with green leaves and striking yellow stripes (variegated) and showy orange flowers perched on stalks that can rise 6 feet. The gently spreading foliage can also reach lengths of more than 5 feet, which makes it a great plant for background or if you need height in your garden. Canna Americanallis prefers rich, mildly acidic soil, consistent watering (it does not like to dry out) and can be grown in up to 6 inches of water during the summer. If you plan to use it as a water plant, gradually introduce it to aquatic life.

Seed and pollen of this plant have very low fertility levels and more success with propagation is likely with dividing and harvesting bulbs for storage indoors over winter and planted in the spring. The rhizomes are thick, over an inch in diameter and, if that is your strategy, consider growing the plant in a 5 gallon pot that can be removed from the water garden in fall and the rhizomes stored indoors.

Diseases, Insects, and Other Plant Problems:

No serious insect or disease problems. Japanese beetles, caterpillars, slugs and snails may chew on the foliage. Watch for aster yellows.

 

VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.   

More information on Canna.

Profile Video:
See this plant in the following landscape:
Corner Roadside Planting
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bengal Tiger'
    Striped leaves
  • 'Pretoria'
'Bengal Tiger', 'Pretoria'
Tags:
#showy flowers#water garden#fall flowers#perennial bulbs#orange flowers#interesting leaves#summer flowers#tall#variegated#wet soils tolerant#tropical feel#perennial
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
  • 'Bengal Tiger'
    Striped leaves
  • 'Pretoria'
'Bengal Tiger', 'Pretoria'
Tags:
#showy flowers#water garden#fall flowers#perennial bulbs#orange flowers#interesting leaves#summer flowers#tall#variegated#wet soils tolerant#tropical feel#perennial
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Canna
    Species:
    americanallis
    Family:
    Cannaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Perennial
    Recommended Propagation Strategy:
    Division
    Bulb Storage:
    Indoors overwinter in a dry space with moderate temperature.
    Dimensions:
    Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Water Plant
    Habit/Form:
    Clumping
    Erect
  • Cultural Conditions:
    Light:
    Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
    Soil Texture:
    High Organic Matter
    Loam (Silt)
    Soil pH:
    Acid (<6.0)
    Soil Drainage:
    Frequent Standing Water
    Moist
    Occasionally Wet
    Available Space To Plant:
    Less than 12 inches
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Green
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Fruit Type:
    Capsule
    Fruit Length:
    1-3 inches
    Fruit Width:
    < 1 inch
    Fruit Description:
    Prickly 3-parted capsule
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Orange
    Red/Burgundy
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Panicle
    Raceme
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Flower Shape:
    Lipped
    Flower Petals:
    2-3 rays/petals
    Colored Sepals
    Flower Size:
    3-6 inches
    Flower Description:
    Bright melon-orange flower, 3" petaloid stamens, petals, and sepals blushed a darker, red in places with yellow on edges. Petaloid stamens are strongly flushed red. The flower has a crumpled silk appearance.
  • Leaves:
    Leaf Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Variegated
    Leaf Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Leaf Type:
    Sheath
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Alternate
    Rosulate
    Leaf Shape:
    Elliptical
    Lanceolate
    Ovate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Length:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Width:
    > 6 inches
    Leaf Description:
    Spreading leaves. Veins variegated yellow, but paler in places with maroon edge to leaf.
  • Stem:
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
    Stem Form:
    Straight
    Stem Description:
    Upright stems reaching more than 6 feet.
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Pond
    Riparian
    Landscape Theme:
    Rain Garden
    Water Garden
    Resistance To Challenges:
    Wet Soil