🔥 Canna
Canna indica
Tropical drama in plant form — giant leaves, hot flowers, zero chill.
Sun
Full sun, 6+ hrs
Days to harvest
Rhizomes sprout in 2–3 weeks; blooms summer–fall
Spacing
12–18 inches apart
Soil pH
6.0–6.5
How to grow
Plant rhizomes 4 inches deep in spring after frost danger — in Florida, they stay in the ground year-round and multiply like rabbits. They love rich, moist soil and full sun; more water = bigger plants. Divide crowded clumps every 3–4 years or flowering declines.
Water & feeding
Thirsty! Keep soil consistently moist — cannas even tolerate boggy spots that drown other plants. Drought = crispy leaf edges.
Common problems
- Canna leaf rollers (caterpillars that glue leaves shut) — handpick or Bt
- Rust in humid climates
- Japanese beetles skeletonizing leaves
Harvest
Deadhead spent blooms to keep the show going; cut stalks to the ground after flowering finishes. Foliage stays handsome until frost.
Nerdy fact: Canna seeds are so hard and round they've been used as beads, rattles, and even pistol shot in some cultures — the seeds can reportedly survive decades and still germinate. Talk about commitment.