Canna lilies are grown from rhizomes, which look like clumpy ginger roots, and you can tell how big they’ll get depending on the number of segments, or “eyes,” that are jutting out from the mass. Most gardeners will recommend choosing a rhizome with 3 to 5 eyes for a bigger, brighter display.
Planting them in spring will result in late summer flowering that lasts for months until the frost hits. Add some slow-release fertilizer into the soil to keep them well-fed while they develop. Once the temperature dips, you can dig up the rhizomes and safely store them for replanting next spring. If you live in an area within USDA zones 8–11, you’re in luck, because canna lilies can withstand your mild winters! If you live in these zones, leave your rhizomes in the ground, and your cannas will come back the following year with a fresh display of blossoms.
Canna lilies can tolerate shade, but won’t produce as many blooms this way. In very hot climates, partial shade is best because it will prevent the petals from getting scorched, but if you live in an area with milder temperatures, your lilies can handle full sun. They also prefer their soil to be more on the wet side, provided there’s good drainage.
3 Ways To Use Canna Lilies In Your Landscape Design
Ready to give your yard a tropical-inspired makeover? With so many different colors and varieties to choose from, you can get creative with your color palette and design theme. But with so many possibilities, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start, so here are three basic ways you can use canna lilies to bring the tropical vibes to your landscape.
Make Them The Focal Point Of Your Garden Bed
Since they’re so tall and their leaves are so wide, canna lilies look best when they’re placed in the center or the very back of the garden, so they aren’t blocking the surrounding plants. Use less flashy, more mounded plants in a complementary color palette to fill in the space surrounding your canna lilies.
Use Them As A Border Plant For Ponds And Water Features
Not all plants can tolerate super moist soil conditions, so if you have a pond or water feature in your yard that causes the surrounding soil to remain damp, canna lilies are a perfect option for those spots. If you want to cover the top layer of soil with a bit of gravel for aesthetic purposes, your canna lilies can handle it.
