Canna Canna americanallis var. variegata
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Canna:
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAN-uh a-mer-ih-KAY-na-liss
- Description
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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.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Corner Roadside Planting
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Bengal Tiger'
Striped leaves - 'Pretoria'
- 'Bengal Tiger'
- 'Bengal Tiger', 'Pretoria'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Bengal Tiger'
Striped leaves - 'Pretoria'
- 'Bengal Tiger'
- 'Bengal Tiger', 'Pretoria'
- Tags:
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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.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Bulb
- Water Plant
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Upright stems reaching more than 6 feet.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Pond
- Riparian
- Landscape Theme:
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil