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Moonshine Designs Nursery Located in Milan, Illinois 309-756-1967 Fax: 309-756-1058
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Canna Culture
Cannas are native to the northern and southern hemispheres. They grow well in most areas of the United States, but flourish with plenty of heat and water.
Cannas grow to heights of 3 feet (dwarf), 4 feet (medium) and 6 feet (tall) (up to 8' with "Big Red"), depending on the cultivar. The height of cannas can vary significantly depending on soil fertility, type of soil, water, light and/or the growing season.
Plant in the spring after danger from hard frost. A good rule of thumb is to plant cannas when you would plant Irish potatoes in your area or when the Oak tree leaves are as big as squirrel's ears........Someone told me that once . In zone 5, we start to plant May 1.
Soil: Loose, fertile and well drained.
Cannas love full sun and require a minimum of four hours direct sunlight.
Plant rhizomes 12 to 18 inches apart, covering with two to three inches of soil.
For use around a pond or in a bog, do not allow the water level to exceed 6” above the rhizome.
Place the rhizome horizontally in the ground with the eye up, if visible. Canna rhizomes do not have a top or bottom, so no worry of placing it upside down.
In colder regions, cannas may be planted in pots and placed in greenhouse conditions six to eight weeks prior to planting. When all danger of frost is past, remove from pots and plant outside.
Water thoroughly once a week by slowly soaking the area around the roots.
Add a general all purpose fertilizer (10-20-10 is great!) at planting time and once during the growing season after bloom begins.
Additional note for pond culture: If using a pot, it must be at least 8” in diameter to allow for the growth of the rhizome and roots. Azalea pots are ideal for this.
In temperate zones, the rhizomes must be dug in the fall after the first hard frost and stored in a frost-free place until spring.
Picture above is of "Big Red" Canna in August. They are 8' tall!