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🔍 Click to enlargebulbperennial
Canna Lily
Canna × generalis
Bold tropical plant with large paddle-shaped leaves and vivid flowers. Makes a dramatic statement.
Quick Facts
Sun:☀️ Full Sun
Water:💧💧💧 High
USDA Zones:Zones 7–11
Space:🪴 Container, 🌱 Small Bed, 🏡 Large Garden
Soil:Loam, Clay, Silty
Best Season(s):Spring, Summer
Experience Level:🌱 Beginner
Native Range:Tropical Americas
Bloom Color:Red, orange, yellow, pink — bold, tropical-looking
Bloom Cycle:Summer through frost
Care Notes
Dig rhizomes after frost in cold zones and store over winter. Divide every 2–3 years.
Growing Details
Mature Size:3-6 ft tall, 1.5-2 ft spread
Growth Rate:🐇 Fast
Zone Performance
In zone 7 at the cool edge, rhizomes must be dug after the first frost blackens the foliage and stored indoors over winter in barely moist peat moss, since they cannot survive freezing ground. In zones 10-11, canna remains in the ground year-round as a true evergreen perennial and can spread into large colonies that benefit from periodic division to maintain vigor.
Companions & Wildlife
🦌 Deer Resistance
occasionally damaged
Deer will browse canna foliage and flowers in areas of high deer pressure, though it is not typically a first-choice food source.
🐝 Pollinator Value
moderate
Attracts hummingbirds and occasionally butterflies drawn to the bright, tubular flowers, though nectar reward is modest compared to true lilies.
Good Companions
Elephant Ear (Colocasia) — Both bring bold, large-leaved tropical texture and share the same high-water, full-sun requirements, ideal for pond-edge or bog plantings.
Salvia — Salvia's spiky flower form contrasts with canna's broad paddle leaves while both tolerate heat and humidity well.
Coleus — Colorful coleus foliage fills in around canna's base, echoing its bold-leaf tropical look at a lower height.
Troubleshooting
⚠️ Canna leaf roller caterpillars folding and chewing leaves
Remove and destroy rolled leaf sections by hand, or apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) early in the infestation.
⚠️ Rhizomes rotting in winter storage
Cure rhizomes for a few days after digging, store in barely damp peat or vermiculite (not wet), and keep at 45-55°F with good air circulation.
⚠️ Few flowers, mostly foliage
Ensure full sun exposure of at least 6 hours and avoid excessive nitrogen fertilizer, which promotes leaf growth over blooms.
✅ Pet Safety
Generally considered non-toxic to cats and dogs.
Informational only — always check with a veterinarian if you suspect your pet has eaten something it shouldn't have.