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Planting and Growing Cannas (Canna Lilies)

Canna Tropicanna®: The original Tropicanna, Tropicanna Gold, and Tropicanna Black

Canna Tropicanna®: The original Tropicanna, Tropicanna Gold, and Tropicanna Black

Image Credit:
Anthony Tesselaar Plants
Botanical Name
Canna x generalis
Grown as
Tender Perennial
USDA Zones
7a
7b
8a
8b
9a
9b
10a
10b
Toxicity
Non-toxic
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Water Needs
High
Height
3-6 feet
Spread
3-6 feet
Soil pH
Acidic
Neutral
Alkaline
Bloom Time
Summer
Fall
Flower Color
Orange
Pink
Red
White
Yellow
Special Features
Container-Friendly
Erosion Control
Long Blooming
Attracts Butterflies
Attracts Hummingbirds
Attracts Pollinators
Deer-resistant
Rabbit-resistant
Resilience
Clay Soil Tolerant
Heat-Tolerant
Plant Type
Flowers
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Looking to add bold, tropical flair to your garden? Canna lilies are your go-to showstoppers! With their vibrant blooms and towering leaves, these heat-loving beauties are surprisingly easy to grow, even if your garden isn’t in the tropics. 

Whether you’re planting in borders, containers, or around water features, cannas deliver drama all summer long. Learn how to plant and grow cannas—plus, get instructions for deadheading, cutting back, and overwintering.

Also known as Indian shot, canna is a sun-loving tropical or subtropical herbaceous perennial hardy in Zones 7-10. They’ll grow up to 8 feet tall in one season. 

Cannas can be both focal points and stylish accents. Use them to bring structure as a tall border or to add depth to narrow spaces. They add a colorful splash to garden orders and poolside plantings, bring a tropical touch to water features, and thrive in boggy areas (NOT salt water). Mix cannas with grasses, lantana, zinnias, snapdragons, elephant ears, salvia, periwinkles, and more. 

Note: Canna plants can be left outside in the ground all winter in Zones 7 to 10. They will also grow equally well in large containers dragged inside during the dormant period. In colder climates, cannas are easy to lift and store during cooler months. (Learn more below.)

Planting

When to Plant Cannas

  • Cannas can not tolerate cold temperatures. The soil must be 60ºF or warmer before planting rhizomes—often the time when folks put tomatoes in the ground. See our Planting Calendar for tomato-planting dates. Dig a small hole 2 inches deep and insert a thermometer to determine soil temps.
  • In cold, short-season areas, start canna rhizomes in pots indoors or in a greenhouse, ready to transplant outdoors at the right time.

Where to Plant Cannas

Cannas need full sun for good flowering and consistently moist soil with a pH of around 6.0–6.5. Add lime before planting if your garden soil is acidic (low pH). Position plants away from strong wind; their large, soft leaves are vulnerable to damage.

How to Plant Cannas

  • Space rhizomes 1-1/2 to 2 feet apart to give cannas enough room. Containers need to be at least 18 inches in diameter (per rhizome).
  • Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of 1 foot, then mix in 2 to 4 inches of compost.
  • Dig a hole 2 inches deep and set the rhizome 1 to 2 inches below the soil with the “eyes” (bumps or nodes, which are growth sprouts) pointed up.
  • Cover with 1 to 2 inches of soil. Tamp firmly.
  • Water thoroughly, then withhold water for as long as three weeks and watch for signs of growth. Cannas are slow to sprout. Once sprouted, water at least once a week by slowly soaking the area around the roots.
  • Full foliage color develops when days are warmer (59ºF or more). Blooms should appear in 10 to 12 weeks.
  • Cannas should not need to be staked, as they have strong, upright stems.
Canna rhizomes with roots, closeup
Photo: izzzy71

Growing

Watering

Cannas need wet soil. If the soil doesn’t remain moist, provide a good soaking once a week and every other day during the hottest weeks of summer—water freely in dry spells. Maintain a thin layer of mulch to help retain moisture.

Fertilizing

Where the soil is fertile, fertilizer is optional. However, cannas are big eaters and would benefit from slow-release fertilizer at planting and twice during the growing season. Fish emulsion fertilizer, which is a little higher in nitrogen, is a beneficial organic alternative. Higher nitrogen fertilizers tend to increase canna height. Rose or tomato food products are also suitable.

Canna 'Tropicanna' by Anthony Tesselaar Plants
Canna ‘Tropicanna’® ‘Autumn Joy’ makes for a stunning display in late summer.
Photo Courtesy of Anthony Tesselaar Plants

Deadheading Cannas

  • To promote blooming, check your canna every few days to deadhead (i.e., remove spent flowers).
  • When deadheading, use small garden pruners or scissors. Do not pinch with your fingers.
  • Canna stems grow several flowers on a single stem. Snip off only the spent flower where it joins the main stem, leaving the other spikes to continue to bloom.
  • Once all the flowers on a single canna spike have bloomed, you may cut that part of the stem back, but avoid cutting off any new budding spikes.

Cutting Back and Pruning Cannas

After the entire plant has been deadheaded several times and with flowers no longer forthcoming, cut the flower stem back to the foliage. 

Only at the end of the growing season should you cut the plant—down to around 6 inches off the ground. 

If the plant looks “trashy” or the leaves get sunburnt, however, you can simply trim off the brown edges (like a haircut) or trim off any dead leaves at the bottom near the stem. 

Be careful not to nick the main stem. If the stem is damaged, cut it back to the ground.

You may see seed pods on your canna! These seed pods will make more cannas, so you can clip them off and put them right in the soil of your cannas; it may take a few years to get going, but you’ll have more cannas in the future.

How to Store Cannas for Winter

In Zones 7/8 and warmer, cannas can be left in the ground year-round. After frost kills the foliage, cut in-ground plants back to 4 inches. Add a healthy layer of straw or leaf mulch in the fall to protect rhizomes from the cold as the plants overwinter in place. (Note: Zone 7 doesn’t always experience canna-killing winter temperatures, so it’s a judgment call.) 

Bring cannas grown in pots indoors into a garage or basement for winter. Keep them dry (do not water) until spring’s nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F, typically after the tulips have bloomed in northern areas. Only then move them outside for the summer.

In Zone 6 or colder, it is necessary to dig up (lift) in-ground cannas in the fall and bring them inside for the winter. After cutting the canna back (as above), dig out the rhizome with a shovel. Avoid damaging the rhizome by digging about 1 foot away from the stem. With your hands, gently loosen the soil and lift out the clump. Shake off the soil and cut off any foliage. Divide clumps into 3 to 5 rhizomes, each with eyes.

Cure the rhizomes in the sun or in a garage or closet for a few days to toughen them up and help them resist rot. Wrap each rhizome in a newspaper or a paper bag, along with a small amount of dry growing medium, such as peat moss, to absorb moisture and prevent rot. Rhizomes should not touch each other.

Store cannas over the winter in a dry place where the temperature will not drop below 40ºF. Often, this is a basement, attic, or garage. Check the rhizomes a couple of times over the winter to make sure that they don’t dry out. Mist with a bit of water, as needed. If you find rot, trip it away or discard the entire rhizome. 

When spring’s nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50°F, replant outdoors. Make sure each divided piece has at least one eye; from it, new leaves will grow. Blooms should appear in 10 to 12 weeks.

Harvesting

To create an indoor arrangement with a tropical feel, cut the canna flower stems. Although the flowers themselves only last a day or two, their foliage makes for a stunning backdrop in many bouquets.

Pests and Problems

Canna Lily Problems

Canna lilies are generally easy to grow and are rarely affected by serious issues. However, growing conditions can still impact plant health and performance.

If cannas are kept too wet or planted too closely together, they may develop weak growth and reduced flowering. Overcrowding can also limit airflow, which increases the risk of disease.

Poor drainage is another common issue. Cannas prefer consistently moist soil but will struggle if roots sit in standing water for long periods.

Canna Lily Pests

Cannas are not heavily attacked by insects, but a few pests may occasionally cause damage.

Slugs and snails can chew holes in leaves, especially in damp conditions.

Spider mites may appear during hot, dry weather, causing speckled or faded foliage.

Caterpillars can feed on leaves and create noticeable holes, though damage is usually limited unless populations are high.

Canna Lily Diseases

Canna lilies are relatively disease-resistant, but problems can occur in overly wet or crowded conditions.

Rust is a common fungal disease that creates orange or brown spots on leaves.

Fungal leaf spot may cause dark lesions that spread across foliage. Botrytis blight can develop in cool, wet environments and causes gray mold on leaves or flowers. Bacterial bud rot may occur when moisture collects in tightly packed buds, leading to decay before flowers open.

Most diseases can be prevented by ensuring good spacing, proper drainage, and avoiding overhead watering.

Types

  • ‘City of Portland’: 4 to 5 feet tall; green foliage with coral-pink flowers
  • Ehemann’s canna: 5 to 8 feet tall; green foliage with deep rose-pink flowers
  • ’Pretoria’, aka Bengal Tiger: 4 to 6 feet tall; variegated yellow-and-green-striped foliage with orange flowers
  • ‘Futurity Red’: 2 to 4 feet tall, on average; burgundy foliage with crimson flowers; self-cleaning (drops spent flowers)
  • ‘Toucan Yellow’: 2 1/2 to 4 feet tall; deep green foliage with golden-yellow flowers
  • For a tall canna, the Canna Tropicanna® is a popular choice. Growing 4 to 6 feet tall, ‘Tropicanna’ boasts tangerine, iris-like blooms and exotic bronze foliage. Plant in the back of your garden bed or large containers for a dramatic statement on your porch or patio.
Canna Tropicanna
 Canna Tropicanna® 
  • A medium-size gem is ‘Los Angeles’, which has large, deep pink florets and opens out so that you can see the face. Growing 4 to 5 feet tall, this canna blooms from June to August.
pink cannas
Photo Credit: Mick49/Shutterstock

As well as medium- to tall-size cannas, you can find smaller “dwarf” sizes and dramatic “giant” sizes!

  • Dwarf cannas stand 2 to 4 feet tall and are easy to fit into our downsized modern gardens. ‘Picasso’ is a real attention-getter with bright yellow flowers and deep red leopard-like spots; it blooms from July to frost. ‘Wyoming’ has dark burgundy stems and lush orange flowers that bring life to a quiet bed from mid-summer until frost.
  • Interested in a giant canna? One of the most popular is ‘Musifolia’, which grows up to 8 feet! With 3-foot-long red-vein leaves and red blooms, it makes a statement.

Wit and Wisdom

  • Cannas (Canna indica) are unrelated to true lilies, even though they’re commonly called canna lilies. This flowering perennial plant is related to bananas and ginger! This may not be surprising when you consider their huge paddle-shaped leaves in those gorgeous red, orange, and bronze colors. 
  • Cannas’ bright flowers may attract hummingbirds.
  • The name canna comes from the Greek word kanna, meaning reed or reed-like plant.
  • During the Victorian era, gardeners so loved cannas that they grew them from seed, but this isn’t easy. The germination rate is low, and the seeds need to be filed or given an acid bath to break down their hard coat.
  • Canna seeds, being perfectly round and hard like BB pellets, have been used in jewelry, prayer beads, and baby rattles.
  • Canna has been cultivated as a food crop in Central and South America for thousands of years. The rhizomes are edible; the foliage is used as animal fodder when feed is scarce.

Flowers

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it’s not surprising that she and The Old Farmer’s Almanac found each other. She leads digital content for the Almanac website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana.

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Rick G</span> Thu, 01/25/2018 - 21:19
Hi. I've in Zone 9 in Scottsdale AZ. I have a long raised bed on the north side of our house that gets mostly shade in the fall/winter but a lot of sun spring/summer (when sun is high enough to get over house). I used to have roses in this raised bed, but they didn't work (I think too little sun). I'm thinking of trying cannas because they may go dormant in the winter anyway so the lack of sun might not be a concern. Do you think cannas can work in this location? I'm really struggling to find plants that can be happy with fall/winter shade and the sun/heat of Arizona spring/summer. I have not yet relented to go with seasonal plants/swapping out plants different times of year. Thanks.
<span>Ken Macumber</span> Wed, 10/04/2017 - 17:32
I started with 2 plants, 4 years ago and now I have over 75. Planted all over the yard. This year (2017) only a few have flowered, these are the large dark green leaves about 3' tall. The others are the yellow/green Bengal tiger Types and had large blooms last year. No blooms. Same soil, same fertilizer, etc. Anybody else in Northern Massachusetts having the same issue?
<span>Tony</span> Fri, 11/10/2017 - 18:47
There are a number o reasons your cannas have not flowered. Usually the reqason is the tubers are not larger enough to support nutrient to flower. As the tubers get large and I mean large they will flower...... Use a prei MIx garden soil that has food mix for garden flowers in late spring 2018. GOOD LUCK
<span>Mitchell</span> Fri, 10/20/2017 - 13:35
Make sure you're not putting to much nitrogen on any blooming flowers as the nitrogen will aid in the leaves, but not the flowering part of the plant
<span>Karen</span> Sun, 10/08/2017 - 19:21
I planted cannas in a large pot and never got one bloom. Lots of leaves. I'm in New Jersey. I'm wondering what happened
<span>Stephen Kurek</span> Thu, 09/21/2017 - 10:42
bought one two years ago it grew straight away but did not flower 1st year wonderful bloom last year but struggled this year due to cold summer but is still in flower now mid september all the neighbours want a tuber donating next year very easy to cultivate mine is in all day sun water daily and flood it once a week withers and dies over winter but comes back late spring getting larger i started with one plant ,three last year, ten this
<span>Reggie Bell</span> Tue, 09/05/2017 - 01:21
I always deadhead my cannas so they will keep flowering I have notice that the seeds from the spent flowers have taken hold in my compost pile but it took years, the easiest to grow from seeds is the f1 Scarlett that variety also won awards I am going to grow them from seed next year, this year I bout from a local school, my new obsession is cone flowers!! I am in Maryland on the Eastern Shore Zone7
<span>Jim Keating</span> Mon, 08/14/2017 - 10:39
First canova i've had. blooms are great. Not sure how to dead head, also leaves are developing large brown and yellow spots. what is it and how can i stop it?
<span>Sandra Forbes</span> Sat, 06/02/2018 - 20:31
my canna leaves have just broken ground and they have brown edges
<span>Bonnie</span> Sat, 08/12/2017 - 11:56
I planted my canna's at the same time I planted my gladiola's. This was late spring in zone 5. My glad's have sprouted and flowered but my canna's never sprouted. I'm wondering why. I've never planted these before and they are planted in front of my glad's.