Growing Canna Lilies
If you’re like me, you love a good tropical vacation.
Surround us with all the color, lush vegetation, ocean waves breaking in the distance and that warm breeze across our sun kissed skin.
It can be pretty tough to come by these things in North Iowa but we can grow some tropical plants to remind us of those dreamy vacations we take. Cue the Canna Lily.
Canna Lilies are tall herbaceous perennials with unique blooms and large leaves that prefer heat & humidity. They can grow in many soil types, tolerating some of the toughest as a matter of fact.
A relatively low maintenance, easy to grow plant, their blooms come in many colors, most commonly red, orange and yellow. Depending on the variety, the foliage color varies from green to maroon, bronze, as well as variegated.
In cooler climates, like ours in North Iowa, plant them in an area that gets 8 hours of full sun a day. In warmer climates, these plants can tolerate partial shade with approx. 4 hours of morning and evening sun. These look great as a hedge or grown in clusters.
The roots of a Canna Lily are called rhizomes. Identify the eyes by looking for a swollen area of new growth. There may be several eyes on one rhizome. The more eyes, the larger the plant.
Once soil temps have reached approximately 65°F, dig a large hole that will fit the rhizome and back fill to allow the roots some soft soil to grow into. Bury the rhizome 2-4 inches deep with the eyes facing upward. Water in well and allow new growth to emerge. Sometimes it may take up to 3 weeks to see a sprout. In that time, there is no need for additional water. Once sprouts emerge, water weekly by soaking the area around the plant.
These plants benefit from deadheading. Keep them blooming all summer long by removing spent blooms to aid in the production of new flower buds.
Canna Lilies can also be grown in pots. Be sure to choose a well draining, large pot, at least 12” wide and deep, with a wide base due to their tall nature. Our strong winds could easily topple over a pot without good support. Just as planting into the ground, bury the rhizome 2-4 inches deep and water in well. Keep an eye on moisture levels as above ground pots tend to dry out quicker so these may need more watering.
Pollinators and Hummingbirds love them too.
The rhizomes will reproduce and spread when grown in the right conditions.
In areas that don’t experience a ground freeze, rhizomes can be left in the ground over winter. In colder climates like ours in North Iowa, they must be lifted from the soil to save for the following season. Once flowering has ceased, lift the rhizomes carefully with a shovel or garden fork and store them in peat moss or other preferred media in a dark cool, frost free space over the winter. If you’ve grown your Canna Lily in a pot, cut the stalks back a couple inches above soil level and place the pot in an area that is cool and dark but won’t freeze to store over the winter season. No water is needed. Once temperatures have warmed again in late spring, bring your pot into a sunny location and water well.
