You may have seen Cannas used as central dot plants in council bedding planting.  However they are invaluable in the garden for their lush architectural foliage and bright, gladioli-like blooms.  Their height and their dramatic, large, banana shaped leaves make them perfect for an exotic, jungle style garden.  The Tropicanna series is particularly stunning, with theire rainbow coloured foliage.  They create amazing impact in the centre of a summer container or at the back of a hot themed border.

Canna ‘Tropicanna’

With their lush, rainbow-coloured leaves and showy, exotic blooms, ‘Tropicanna’ really bring borders and beds alive with intense colour.

Canna ‘Tropicanna Gold’

With their striped leaves and golden-orange blooms, ‘Tropicanna Gold’ will create a dramatic eye-catching display in your garden.

Canna ‘Tropicanna Black’

With their black leaves and scarlet red blooms, ‘Tropicanna Black’ will create a dramatic eye-catching display in your garden.

Top Tips

Cannas prefer well drained soil. Although Cannas normally love a sunny spot, the foliage of these gorgeous varieties may fade in the sun, so a shadier spot is recommended. When in growth, water and feed them well.  Do not be too hasty to remove spent blooms as new flower shoots are often produced within the dead flower within a month or so.When a flower spike has no more buds, prune it down to the next side shoot where a secondary flower spike should develop.

In very mild areas Cannas may overwinter in well drained soils with a layer of mulch.  In cooler areas it is advisable to lift the tubers in autumn after the foliage has been frosted, and store them in pots of moist compost in a cool but frost free place such as a shed or greenhouse. Larger clumps can be divided.  When they begin to shoot in spring, bring them into the light and increase watering.Do not worry if shoots do not appear until May. They will still require frost protection until June, when they can be planted outdoors.

To view Canna Tropicannas at YouGarden click here

Mark Snelling

Images and descriptions copyright YouGarden

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