I always get inspired to work in my landscape once I see the bulb/tuber section pop up in garden centers. The pictures of the various perennials are bright and colorful promising a spectacular result in return for your investment in planting and establishing these rough-looking rhizomes. My gardening eye always targets cannas – big leaves and big flowers make an impact in the landscape like no other perennials.
Let’s start by unpacking some information on the origins of canna lilies. Canna lilies (not true lilies) are originally from tropical America and are closely related to gingers, bananas and heliconias. As a group, cannas are considered tropical/subtropical in nature and are fully hardy in our area. When you purchase a packet of canna lily divisions, you receive several rhizomes which are actually swollen underground stems. These stem pieces produce shoots that become sizable stalks topped with red, orange, yellow, cream, or white flowers – or various combinations thereof. In addition to the tropical-looking flowers, the foliage is robust and luxuriant in green, bronze, burgundy and even variegated. The size of cannas is also variable with dwarf cultivars normally reaching no more than twenty-four inches tall, to some of the larger standard types towering over five feet. Dwarf cannas are commonly grown from seed and are ideal for container gardening as well as for borders. Large cannas need some space but can make a stunning impact when planted in mass.
Selecting cannas to plant can be as easy as trying several types based on color and size. As an example, the dwarf canna ‘Tropical’ series comes in ‘Rose’, ‘Yellow’, and ‘Bronze Scarlet’. Some of my taller favorites are ‘Australia’ with maroon foliage and red flowers, and ‘Bengal Tiger’ aka ‘Pretoria’ with green and yellow striped foliage and bright orange flowers. Tropicana® aka ‘Phaison’ is another taller canna growing up to six-feet tall that features mesmerizing leaves of orange, pink, red, and green stripes topped with bright orange flowers.
Plant cannas in a full sun site with compost-enriched, moist, but well-drained soil. Space each rhizome or division twelve inches apart and five inches deep for best growth. Once established, cannas can tolerate some standing water and even drought. While all cannas love the summer heat, some of the taller ones may be prone to high winds and can benefit from staking if needed. Dividing clumps of established cannas and reestablishing them in new beds can be accomplished every few years to reinvigorate plantings. Consider giving extra divisions to friends and neighbors.
There is normally only one pest that I have problems with – the larger canna looper. The caterpillar of this skipper butterfly loops leaves into a tube-like structure with silken threads and chews the leaves causing moderate damage on occasion. Other than hand-picking when the loops are found, (Bt) Bacillus thuringiensis, or Spinosad can be used as per label directions.
Culturally, removing spent flowers will help plants extend the flowering season longer. Also, consider harvesting some of your floral display as cut flowers for indoor beauty.
Cannas are available at almost any garden center with ready-to-plant rhizomes and potted plants in bloom. Mail order garden catalogs also feature many cultivars including seeds. Cannas are Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ recommended plants suitable for our area. There is only one canna to avoid – Canna indica or Indian shot canna – which is predicted to be invasive and not recommended by IFAS as per the UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas.
Cannas – get them while they’re hot! Cannas are herbaceous perennials that can and will satisfy any gardener’s heart! For more information on all types of exotic flowering plants suitable for growing in our area, or to ask a question, you can also call the Master Gardener Volunteer Helpdesk on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 1 to 4 pm at 764-4340 for gardening help and insight into their role as an Extension volunteer. Ralph E. Mitchell is the Director/Horticulture Agent for UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County. He can be reached at 941-764-4344 or ralph.mitchell@charlottecountyfl.gov. Connect with us on social media. Like us on Facebook @CharlotteCountyExtension and follow us on Instagram @ifascharco.
Resources:
UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions (2024) Canna. The University of Florida Extension Services, IFAS.
The Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design (2022) The University of Florida Extension Services, IFAS.
UF/IFAS Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas. (2025). The University of Florida Extension Service, IFAS.
McAuslane, H. J. (2017) Larger canna leafroller – Featured Creatures. The University of Florida Extension Services, IFAS.
Wikipedia – Canna (2024) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_(plant).
Long, G. E. (2025) Cannas Can Take the Heat! Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center.
Bachman, G. R. (2014) Regular and dwarf cannas shine in Southern gardens. Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Weisenhorn, J., Jarvis, B. R. & Moncada, K. (2024) Calla and canna lilies. University of Minnesota.
Bachman, G. R. (2016) Dwarf canna is go-to plant for Mississippi. Mississippi State University Extension Service.
Illinois Extension – College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences (2025) Canna. Illinois Extension.
SIMS, C. (2024) EXTENSION NEWS: Cana lilies — common and resilient. Texas A& M – Angelina County.
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