Introduction
There is a unique kind of excitement that comes with watching a canna lily first emerge from the soil. One day, you see a pointed green or burgundy shoot breaking through the earth, and within weeks, you have a towering, tropical masterpiece with leaves as broad as a boat paddle. These plants are the ultimate "wow factor" for any summer garden, offering a lush, architectural presence that few other flowers can match.
At Longfield Gardens, we want to help you bring that tropical flair to your own backyard, no matter where you live. This guide is designed for home gardeners who want to understand how to select, plant, and care for canna lilies to ensure a season full of vibrant color. We will cover everything from choosing the right height for your space to the simple steps for winter storage.
By following a few basic principles regarding soil temperature and moisture, you can enjoy these spectacular blooms and their stunning foliage from midsummer until the first frost. Growing a canna lilly bulb is one of the most rewarding ways to transform a standard flower bed into an exotic retreat.
Choosing the Right Canna Lilly Bulb for Your Garden
Before you dig your first hole, it is helpful to think about the role you want your cannas to play in your landscape. Because these plants range significantly in size and color, matching the variety to your specific garden spot is the first step toward success.
Understanding Height and Scale
Cannas are generally grouped into two categories: dwarf and tall. Standard or tall varieties can reach heights of 5 to 8 feet, making them perfect for the back of a flower border or as a living privacy screen. Dwarf varieties usually stay between 2 and 4 feet tall, which makes them ideal for large patio containers or the middle of a planting bed.
When you choose a taller variety, consider the wind in your area. While their stems are sturdy, a very tall plant in a wide-open, windy spot might benefit from the protection of a fence or a wall. Dwarf varieties are more compact and rarely need extra support, making them a great choice for beginner gardeners.
Selecting Foliage and Flower Colors
While many people focus on the flowers, the foliage of a canna lily is often the star of the show. You can find varieties with bright green leaves that look like banana plants, or deep burgundy and bronze leaves that provide a moody, sophisticated contrast to other garden greens. Some "fancy-leaf" varieties even offer striped or variegated patterns in shades of yellow, cream, and orange.
The flowers themselves come in a hot palette of red, orange, yellow, and pink. Some blooms are solid, while others feature speckles or contrasting edges. When we plan our trial gardens, we often pair dark-leaved cannas with bright red flowers to create a high-energy focal point that draws the eye from across the yard.
High-Performing Varieties to Consider
We recommend looking for varieties that have proven track records for vigor and bloom time.
- Wyoming: Known for its dark, copper-bronze foliage and brilliant orange flowers.
- Lucifer: A popular dwarf variety with red flowers edged in yellow, perfect for pots.
- City of Portland: Offers beautiful coral-pink blooms against lush green leaves.
- Phaison (also known as Tropicanna): Famous for its multi-colored striped leaves and orange flowers.
Key Takeaway: Match the plant's mature height to your garden's layout. Use tall varieties for backdrops and dwarf varieties for containers and borders to keep your garden looking balanced.
When to Plant Your Canna Lilly Bulbs
Timing is perhaps the most important factor in canna success. Because these are tropical plants, they have no patience for cold soil. If you plant them too early, the rhizomes (the "bulbs") will sit dormant and may struggle to start.
The 60-Degree Rule
The best time to plant canna lilly bulbs is in late spring, once the danger of frost has completely passed and the soil has warmed up. A good rule of thumb is to wait until the soil temperature is consistently around 60°F. If the weather is warm enough for you to wear a T-shirt comfortably outside all day, it is likely warm enough for your cannas.
In most parts of the United States, this planting window opens in May or early June. If you live in a warmer climate (Zones 8-11), you can often plant much earlier. For those in northern states, being patient for those extra two weeks in May will actually result in faster growth than planting in cold, wet April soil.
Shipping and Arrival
We schedule our shipments based on your USDA hardiness zone to ensure your bulbs arrive at the right time for planting. When your package arrives, open it immediately to let the rhizomes breathe. If you aren't ready to plant because of a sudden cold snap, keep them in a cool, dry, dark place until the weather settles.
How to Plant Canna Lilly Bulbs Step-by-Step
Once the soil is warm and your garden spot is ready, planting is a quick and simple process. Cannas are not overly fussy about how they are placed in the ground, but following these steps will help them settle in quickly.
Preparing the Site
Choose a spot that receives full sun. In the gardening world, "full sun" means at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. While cannas can grow in partial shade, they will produce fewer flowers and the foliage colors may not be as intense.
Cannas are "hungry" plants that appreciate rich soil. If your soil is very sandy or heavy clay, mixing in some compost or well-rotted manure before planting will provide the nutrients they need to grow those massive leaves.
Depth and Spacing
- Dig the hole: Aim for a depth of about 4 to 6 inches.
- Position the rhizome: Place the canna lilly bulb in the hole horizontally. If you see small bumps or "eyes" (sprouts), point them upward. If you can't tell which way is up, don't worry—the plant will naturally find its way to the surface.
- Space them out: For tall varieties, leave about 18 to 24 inches between plants. For dwarf varieties, 12 inches is usually sufficient.
- Cover and press: Fill the hole with soil and press down gently with your hands to remove any large air pockets.
- Water deeply: Give the area a good soak immediately after planting to wake up the rhizome and settle the soil around it.
Planting in Containers
Cannas are excellent container plants. Use a pot with drainage holes and fill it with high-quality potting soil. A 12-inch pot is suitable for one dwarf canna, while a larger 18-to-24-inch "whiskey barrel" style planter can hold two or three. Containers dry out faster than the ground, so keep a closer eye on moisture levels if you choose this method.
What to do next:
- Check your local frost dates before planting.
- Clear the planting area of any weeds or large rocks.
- Mix a shovel-full of compost into each planting hole.
- Mark the spot with a garden stake so you don't accidentally dig it up before it sprouts.
Starting Canna Lilly Bulbs Indoors
If you live in a region with a short growing season, you might feel like summer ends just as your cannas are starting to look their best. You can "game the system" by starting your bulbs indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost.
The Potted Start
Find some inexpensive nursery pots and fill them with damp potting soil. Plant the rhizomes just an inch or two deep and place the pots in a warm, bright spot. A sunny south-facing window or a spot under grow lights works perfectly.
Transitioning Outdoors
By the time the soil outside is warm enough for planting, you will already have a plant that is several inches tall with an established root system. Before moving them permanently into the garden, "harden them off" by placing the pots outside in a sheltered, shady spot for a few hours a day, gradually increasing their exposure to sun and wind over a week. This prevents the leaves from getting "sunburned" by the sudden change in light intensity.
Caring for Your Cannas All Summer Long
Once your cannas are up and growing, they are relatively low-maintenance. They are strong growers that don't suffer from many of the pests or diseases that plague other summer flowers.
Water Correctly, Not Constantly
Cannas are native to tropical marshlands, which means they love water. However, they don't want to sit in a stagnant puddle. The goal is to keep the soil consistently moist. During the heat of midsummer, you may need to water your cannas two or three times a week.
Instead of a light daily sprinkle, give them a long, deep soak. This encourages the roots to grow deeper into the soil, making the plant more resilient during dry spells. If the edges of the leaves start to turn brown and crispy, it is often a sign that the plant needs a bit more water.
Feeding Your Plants
Because cannas grow so much biomass in a single season, they appreciate a little extra food. You can apply a balanced, all-purpose fertilizer once a month during the growing season. Follow the instructions on the product label for the correct amount. Providing these nutrients ensures the foliage stays lush and the flower stalks keep coming.
Deadheading for More Blooms
"Deadheading" is the practice of removing faded flowers. On a canna, the flowers bloom in succession along a spike. Once an individual flower withers, you can pinch it off. Once the entire flower spike has finished blooming and no more buds are visible, cut that specific stalk back to the next set of leaves. This keeps the plant looking tidy and encourages it to send up new flower stalks from the base.
Managing Pests
In some areas, you might notice small holes in the leaves or leaves that appear "rolled up." This is often the work of the canna leafroller. If you see this, you can simply unroll the leaf and remove the small caterpillar, or consult your local extension office for a safe, targeted treatment. For most gardeners, cannas remain very healthy throughout the season with minimal intervention.
Winter Storage: Saving Your Canna Lilly Bulbs
In USDA Zones 8 and warmer, cannas can usually stay in the ground year-round. A layer of mulch over the top is often enough to protect them. However, in Zones 7 and colder, the ground freezes deep enough to damage the rhizomes. Since cannas get bigger and better every year, most gardeners choose to dig them up and store them for the winter.
When to Dig
Wait until the first frost of autumn nips the leaves. You will see the foliage turn black or brown—this is your signal to act. Don't worry; the rhizome underground is still perfectly safe.
- Cut back the stalks: Use garden shears to cut the foliage down to about 4 inches above the ground.
- Dig carefully: Use a garden fork or shovel to gently lift the clump out of the ground. Start digging about a foot away from the base to avoid slicing through the rhizomes.
- Clean them up: Shake off the excess soil. You don't need to scrub them clean; a little bit of dirt is fine.
- Dry them out: Let the clumps sit in a garage or shed for a few days to "cure" and dry out.
Storing for Spring
Place the dry rhizomes in a cardboard box or a plastic bin with ventilation holes. Surround them with slightly damp peat moss, perlite, or wood shavings. This keeps them from drying out completely without making them so wet that they rot.
Store the box in a cool, dark place that stays between 40°F and 50°F—a basement or a crawlspace is usually ideal. Check on them once or twice during the winter; if they look shriveled, a tiny spritz of water on the packing material will help.
Key Takeaway: Winter storage is a simple three-step process: cut, lift, and store. It allows you to enjoy the same beautiful plants year after year, saving you money and giving you larger, more impressive displays each season.
Designing with Cannas: Companion Plants
Cannas are social plants that look even better when paired with the right neighbors. Because they are so bold, they act as a "full stop" in a garden design, giving the eye a place to rest.
In the Flower Bed
Pair green-leaved cannas with fine-textured plants like ornamental grasses or airy perennials like Russian sage. The contrast between the massive canna leaves and the delicate texture of the surrounding plants creates a professional, layered look. For dark-leaved varieties, try planting them near silver-foliage plants like Dusty Miller or Artemisia to make the burgundy tones pop.
The Tropical Mix
If you want to go all-in on the tropical theme, plant your canna lilly bulbs alongside dahlias, elephant ears, and caladiums. These plants all enjoy similar warm-weather conditions and create a lush, jungle-like atmosphere that feels like a vacation in your own yard.
Using Cannas as a Screen
If you have a corner of the yard that needs hiding—perhaps an unsightly AC unit or a compost pile—a row of tall cannas like Wyoming or The President provides a beautiful, fast-growing summer screen. By mid-July, they will be tall enough to provide total coverage while offering a wall of flowers.
Conclusion
Growing canna lilies is one of the easiest ways to add drama and height to your summer landscape. Whether you choose a dwarf variety for a sunny patio pot or a towering giant to line your backyard fence, these plants offer a high reward for very little effort. By remembering to wait for warm soil, providing plenty of water, and storing the bulbs safely over winter, you can build a stunning collection that returns year after year.
At Longfield Gardens, we take pride in providing high-quality rhizomes that are ready to hit the ground running. Our team is always here to help you choose the best varieties for your specific garden goals.
- Wait for 60°F soil temperatures before planting outdoors.
- Provide at least 6 hours of sun and regular deep watering.
- Lift and store rhizomes in cold climates after the first frost.
Gardening is a journey that should be enjoyed one bloom at a time. With canna lilies, that journey is filled with bold colors and impressive growth that will make your garden the talk of the neighborhood.
FAQ
How deep should I plant a canna lilly bulb?
You should plant the rhizomes about 4 to 6 inches deep in the soil. If you are planting in a container, you can go slightly shallower, around 3 to 4 inches, ensuring the rhizome is fully covered by potting mix. This depth provides the plant with the stability it needs as it grows tall and heavy with foliage.
Can cannas grow in the shade?
While cannas are tough and will grow in partial shade, they truly thrive in full sun, which means at least six hours of direct sunlight. In shadier spots, the plants tend to grow taller and "lankier" as they reach for the light, and they will produce significantly fewer flowers. For the brightest leaf colors and most blooms, a sunny location is always best.
Why aren't my canna lilies blooming?
The most common reason for a lack of blooms is a lack of sunlight or nutrients. If your cannas are in a shady spot, moving them to a sunnier location next year will likely solve the problem. Additionally, cannas are heavy feeders; if your soil is poor, applying a balanced liquid fertilizer once a month during the summer can help jumpstart flower production.
Do I have to dig up my canna lilly bulbs every year?
This depends on your climate. If you live in USDA Zone 8 or warmer, you can usually leave them in the ground year-round with a layer of mulch for protection. If you live in Zone 7 or colder, where the ground freezes significantly, you should dig them up after the first frost and store them in a frost-free area like a basement to ensure they survive for the next season.
