Garden Canna Canna x generalis
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Canna x hybrida
- Phonetic Spelling
- KAN-uh jen-er-RAL-liss
- Description
-
Garden Canna is a herbaceous perennial and is most likely the hybrid of Canna indica and Canna glauca or Canna iridiflora. Currently, all Canna hybrids are included under the scientific name of Canna x generalis. The plants are very large and grow up to 6 feet tall. They will attract attention to any garden whether planted as an accent or in a mass planting. They have large colorful flowers and tropical appearing foliage. The foliage and flower color vary depending on the cultivar.
Garden Canna are hybrid plants found in tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America and India. The plant has been widely cultivated and has escaped old home sites. It can be found along roadsides, ponds, lakes, or streams.
The genus name, Canna, is from the Greek word "Kanna," which means reed-like.
Garden Canna prefers sunlight to light shade, soils with high organic matter, and slightly acidic pH. They grow best in moist, well-drained soils, but they can tolerate some standing water or drought once they are established. They have a high heat tolerance, but they are prone to wind damage. The rhizomes should be planted after the last spring frost. It is best to plant the rhizomes at least 5 inches deep and 12 inches apart. Spent flowers should be removed to encourage continued flowering through the summer months. In warm climates, the rhizomes may be left in the ground over the winter. In areas where the plant is not winter hardy, the rhizomes should be lifted from the ground for winter storage. They should be stored in peat or vermiculite in a cool dry space. The plant may be propagated by seeds, rhizomes, and division.
The plant has fleshy rhizomes. The stems are 3-6 feet tall, glabrous, unbranched, and enveloped by leaf sheaths. The leaf color ranges from green, bronze, or variegated, depending on the cultivar. The flowers are 4 to 8 inches long and appear on the ends of the stem as racemes or panicles. The flowers bloom during the summer months, from July to August. Depending on the cultivar, the flower colors ranged from white, cream, yellow, orange, pink, coral, salmon, red, or bicolored. The fruit is a capsule that contains seeds.
Their striking and brightly colored flowers make them an excellent choice for a border grouping, and their tropical feel works well in pool-side landscaping.
Diseases, Pest, and Other Problems:
Japanese Beetles may feed on the young leaves and flower buds. Aster yellows cause dull yellowing of the leaves that eventually turn brown. The disease is spread by aphids. Slugs and snails may also chew on the leaves. The plant is susceptible to leaf-rolling caterpillars. Canna mosaic virus causes pale yellow stripes on the leaves. Leaf spot, rust, and bacterial blight may be also be found. The rhizomes will rot in poorly drained soils.
VIDEO Created by Elisabeth Meyer for "Edibles, Bulbs, and Houseplants" a plant identification course formerly offered in partnership with Longwood Gardens.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscapes:
- Floricyle Corner Roadside Planting Paths & Walkways Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Sunken Pond Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Cannova Lemon'
Green leaves, yellow flowers - 'Ermine'
Creamy white flowers with pale yellow centers - 'Intrigue'
Purple-gray foliage, orange-red flowers - 'Red Tiger'
Creamy-yellow and green foliage, cherry red flowers - 'White Tiger'
Striped foliage, creamy-white flowers
- 'Cannova Lemon'
- 'Cannova Lemon', 'Ermine', 'Intrigue', 'Red Tiger', 'White Tiger'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Cannova Lemon'
Green leaves, yellow flowers - 'Ermine'
Creamy white flowers with pale yellow centers - 'Intrigue'
Purple-gray foliage, orange-red flowers - 'Red Tiger'
Creamy-yellow and green foliage, cherry red flowers - 'White Tiger'
Striped foliage, creamy-white flowers
- 'Cannova Lemon'
- 'Cannova Lemon', 'Ermine', 'Intrigue', 'Red Tiger', 'White Tiger'
- Tags:
-
-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Canna
- Species:
- generalis
- Family:
- Cannaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Native to tropics and subtropics from FL, South America, & India
- Distribution:
- Tropical and subtropical areas of North America, South America, and India
- Wildlife Value:
- The Garden Canna is the larval host of the Brazilian skipper.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Colorful
- Screening
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Bulb Storage:
- Store the rhizomes in a cool dry area.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Bulb
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- 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:
- The fruit is an ellipsoid or globose greenish capsule that is covered with soft spines. The capsule contains a large number of hard seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Panicle
- Raceme
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Colored Sepals
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are large, measuring 4-8 inches long, and occur as terminal racemes or panicles. Each flower has 3 sepals and 3 petals. There is one petal-like stamen and 3-4 petal-like staminodes. The style is pedal-like, and the ovary is warty and spiny. The flowers bloom in different colors depending on the cultivar. They include blooms of white, ivory, yellow, orange, pink, coral, salmon, red, or variegated.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Green
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- 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:
- The leaves are glabrous, ovate, green, and measure 18 to 36 inches long. They have a coarse texture. Some cultivars have colorful variegated leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems are multi-trunked or clumping.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Cottage Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Border
- Mass Planting
- Screen/Privacy
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Heat