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You are here: Home / Flowers / Canna Lily Care: Everything You Need to Know

Canna Lily Care: Everything You Need to Know

in Flowers, Gardening on 01/01/23

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Canna lilies are low-maintenance large plants that can be easy to grow. Their large flowers and foliage are a welcome sight and a tropical vibe for any garden or garden beds.

Although Calla lilies and Canna lilies are often thought to be the same thing as their names are similar, they are 2 different plants.

In fact, neither plant is an actual Lily! How’s that for a fun fact?

Have you ever grown Canna Lillies?  You should, they are beautiful and easy to grow.  Click through NOW to find out everything you need to know about the Canna Lily...

Canna lilies provide a refreshing burst of color and tropical look being one of the most colorful summer tropical bulbs.

Let’s look at everything you need to know about growing these flamboyant Canna plants.

Canna Lilies At A Glance

Pink canna's
Believe it or not, neither Canna lilies nor Calla lilies are true lilies!

Contrary to its name, Canna lilies are not true lilies. They are more closely related to gingers and bananas. Canna lily plants have broad, flat, alternate large leaves that grow out of flower stalks in a long, narrow roll that unfurls at the end.

The Canna leaves are typically solid green, but some Canna species have brownish, maroon, or even variegated colorful leaves. Meanwhile, the Canna flowers are typically red, orange, yellow, or any combination of that variety of colors which are aggregated into clusters of spikes of pinnacles.

Planting Canna Lilies

Someone planting cannas
Is it easy to plant canna lilies?

Cannas are best planted outdoors in the late spring and early summer when the rich soil temperature is about 60°F (15°C) or warmer.

Although they are considered a plant of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates. They are easy to grow in most countries around the world as long as they receive at least 6–8 hours of full sun and sunlight during the summer and are moved to a warm location for the winter months and in cold climates.

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While cannas can be grown from seed, it can be difficult, so for a more reliable propagation, you’re better off planting Canna rhizome instead.

Canna Lily Rhizome
Canna Lily Rhizome

Dig a hole 2 to 3 inches deep and set a rhizome in with its eyes facing up. Cover with about one to 2 inches of soil, tamp firmly, and water thoroughly. Make sure you have good drainage. The last thing you want is the soil moisture for your tropical plants to go from moist soil to soggy soil.

Each rhizome should be planted 1 to 4 feet apart when planted on the ground. However, you can also plant cannas in pots.

Cannas can sprout slowly and do not require much water until it shows signs of growth. Typically, it can take up to three weeks for them to sprout. Once this happens, cannas should be watered at least once a week by slowly watering the area around the roots.

In the summer, these plants need a good watering every other day.

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Caring For Canna Lilies

Throughout the growing season, provide consistent moisture to your canna lilies and do not allow the soil to dry out. You can reduce watering in your flower beds after the exotic flowers have bloomed.

Cannas can be greedy, heavy feeders, so applying a general-purpose organic fertilizer halfway through the season can be beneficial. This can promote a brilliant display of flowers and foliage.

You can keep Canna lilies blooming for as long as possible by deadheading them throughout the growing season. Remove a flowering spike that has no more buds, you can cut plants using shears or a sharp knife down to the next side shoot.

Once the stem is spent, it can be removed from the base at the end of the season.

Pests/Diseases

A leaf with rust and fungal leaf spots
Watch out for rust and fungal leaf spots!

Canna lilies aren’t prone to diseases. However, rust, fungal leaf spot, and bacterial blight may happen when they are overwatered or crowded.

Plus, caterpillars, Canna leaf rollers slugs, snails, and spider mites may damage its leaves. However, other pests do not affect canna lilies.

Do you grow cannas? Share your success tips with us!

Master Canna Lily care with expert tips in this comprehensive guide. Learn everything from planting to maintenance for successful and vibrant growth.

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4 Comments

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Comments

  1. Katie says

    June 15, 2023 at 8:32 am

    Do dear eat these plants?

    Reply
    • Dian says

      June 15, 2023 at 4:48 pm

      Katie,

      Generally, they attract butterflies and hummingbirds and are considered deer resistant. Tiger lilies are another good one for deer resistance.

      I hope that helps,
      Dian

      Reply
  2. Kk says

    July 20, 2023 at 6:29 am

    Tiger lilies are the first thing the deer eat!

    Reply
    • Dian says

      July 20, 2023 at 10:33 am

      Kk,

      While you can’t say deer definitely won’t touch anything really, cause there’s always an exception.

      Tiger Lillies are considered to be a flower most deer avoid.

      Gardening is all trial and error, what works for one may not be the case for another.

      I have a squash growing in the middle of a marigold (both volunteer) and the squash vine borer laid aggs in the middle of that Marigold on the squash plant, I read all the time that Marigolds deter SVB…

      Thanks for the heads up, though!
      Dian

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Dian, a wife of 30+ years, Mom to 4 grown kids, "Nana" to 6, and a Master Gardener. I LOVE reality shows & vegetable gardening & talking about both. You can read more here

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