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Herbaceous Perennial

Canna iridiflora Ruiz & Pav.

Peruvian canna

Upright, clump-forming perennial to a height of 3m, the broad, oval, dark, bluish-green leaves are up to 1m long. Trumpet-shaped flowers are bright pink and borne from midsummer to early autumn

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Ultimate height

2.5–4 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cannaceae
Native to GB / Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Genus: Canna are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with erect stems bearing ovate leaves, with showy flowers with showy petal-like staminodes and small, coloured petals and sepals, borne in racemes or panicles in summer and autumn
Name status: Correct
Plant range: Peru

How to grow

Cultivation

As a patio plant grow in pots of peat-free compost in a sheltered site in full sun. Plants can also be planted into a sunny border. Water freely and apply a high potassium feed every 2-3 weeks in the growing season. Lift the rhizomes in autumn when frost blackens the foliage. Store over winter in barely moist compost in frost-free conditions. See canna cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Architectural
City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical
Coastal
Patio and container plants
Flower borders and beds
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Cut back frosted growth in autumn, deadhead flowers to prolong flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails, caterpillars, glasshouse red spider mite and aphids

Diseases

May be susceptible to canna viruses

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