Canna flower: types and varieties

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Canna is the only genus of plants in the Cannaaceae family. It includes many different species and varieties that differ in size, as well as the color of leaves and flowers. It has been cultivated in Europe since the 16th century. In the wild, it settles along the banks of rivers, streams and other areas with well-moistened soil.

  • Family: Cannabis.
  • Origin: South America.
  • Stem: erect, fleshy.
  • Leaves: large, oblong-oval or elliptical, pointed.
  • Fruit: box.
  • Rhizome: tuberous.
  • Reproductive ability: reproduction by division of rhizomes and seeds.
  • Illumination: Needs plenty of sunlight, tolerates direct sunlight.
  • Watering: moderate.
  • Content temperature: from spring to autumn – 19 – 28 ° С, during the dormant period – not higher than 10 ° С.
  • Flowering time: summer – autumn.

Canna flowers and fruits

Canna is a large, showy perennial flower with branching roots. Grows in warm climates. Reaches 1-2 m in height and more. Stems erect, unbranched, fleshy. The leaves are large, elliptical, pointed, 25 – 80 cm long, 10 – 30 cm wide, arranged in two rows on short stems. They can be striped, red, purple-bronze, green, depending on the variety. Some varieties have dark purple and black-purple leaves. Canna flowers are bisexual, asymmetric, 4–8 cm in diameter, odorless, yellow, orange, red, pink. Less common is the white canna. The flowers are collected in paniculate inflorescences. In favorable conditions, flowering begins in July shortly after planting and lasts until frost.

The fruit of the canna is a three-celled, lucolicidal capsule, oval or cylindrical in shape. On the surface of the fruit there are warty, juicy growths that gradually dry out and fall off, while the shell becomes thinner, the boxes crack and release the seeds contained inside them. The seeds are black, round, 0.6–1 cm in diameter. Arranged in 2 rows. The fruits ripen within 30 – 40 days.

This culture is unpretentious, its only drawback is intolerance to low temperatures. Not susceptible to diseases and pests. It has a strong root system, which allows it to grow successfully even in poor soil.

Cannes breeding

Often, when breeding cannes, the gardener raises the question “how to preserve cannes tubers in winter”, because, like peonies, they should winter at positive temperatures. Usually for the winter period they are cleaned in the basement or pantry. Before the onset of cold weather (in September – October), the rhizomes are dug up and cleaned from the ground, rotten roots and buds are removed, leaving 1 – 2 healthy buds.

After that, the tubers are allowed to dry, placed in boxes, covered with sawdust and sand, taken in equal parts. Once a month, the mixture is moistened with a small amount of water so that the tubers can be nourished and do not dry out. When storing rhizomes, they should be regularly inspected to avoid rotting. Having found rot, the affected area should be cut off, the cut site should be treated with iodine. Boxes are opened no earlier than in early April, when warm weather sets in. The tubers are taken out for several days to fresh air, thereby allowing them to prepare for the growing season. Before planting, they are moistened in the Kornevin solution and sprinkled with wood ash.

You can store the rhizomes of cannes on the loggia in a bucket, covering them with earth. With a strong cold snap, bring the bucket into the room, put it on the veranda or in the attic.

In the southern regions, dug out tubers can be left in an area protected from wind and drafts, covering them with a 15-centimeter layer of sawdust.

canna plant species

Types and varieties of canna are popular all over the world. Bright, large flowers and lush leaves give a decorative, elegant look to this plant, for which it has long been valued by gardeners and used in landscape design.

According to the height of the stem, high, medium, low specimens are distinguished. The color of the leaves – red-leaved and green-leaved. In total, today there are 50 varieties and about 1000 varieties of this plant. Photos of some types of cannes and their description are presented below.

Canna Indian (Canna indica) – common in the Antilles and in Central and South America. Homeland – the western part of India.

It is a slow-growing perennial plant, with an upright, smooth stem and a powerful rhizome. Its height is 1.5 – 2 m. The leaves are elliptical, broadly lanceolate, leathery, dense, smooth, entire, light green or red striped, up to 50 cm long. The flowers are few, tubular, 8 – 10 cm in diameter, waxy, pink- fawn and red, collected in brushes. Flowering begins in June, lasts until late autumn.

Canna drooping (Canna flaccida) – is found in the southeastern United States in swamps and shallow waters of the sea coast. Grows in soils rich in humus.

This is an evergreen plant up to 1.2 m high, with a vertical rhizome. The leaves are lanceolate, oblong, narrowed towards the base, up to 60 cm long, up to 13 cm wide. Flowers 6–8 cm in diameter, yellow-gray, with small bracts. This canna flower has been cultivated since the 18th century. It is planted around pools, and also serves for landscaping premises.

Canna low (Canna humilis) – reaches 1.4 m in height. Homeland – China. The leaves are oval-elongated, bright green, up to 50 cm long. Flowers 10 cm in diameter, red-orange, collected in inflorescences.

Canna garden (Canna generalis) is a common name for garden hybrids. Widely used in modern horticulture.

Varieties of the Crozi group are in particular demand – large-flowered, Humbold with bright orange flowers and reddish-brown leaves, as well as small-flowered, deciduous varieties with large green or purple-green leaves.

canna flower varieties

“America” – the stem of a plant of this variety 1.2 – 1.4 m high. Flowers up to 12 cm in diameter, purple-red hue, collected in inflorescences 35 cm long. Leaves are red-violet. Flowering in July. Rarely bears fruit.

“German Titov” – a stem 1.1 – 1.3 m high. The flowers are light pink, collected in inflorescences 30 cm long. The leaves are red-green. Fruiting.

“Clara Buisson” – a stem 1.2 m high. The flowers are bright, red-orange, inflorescences up to 27 cm long. Flowering in July. Fruiting is plentiful, annual.

“Andenken an Pfitzer” – stem up to 1.4 m. The flowers are orange, with red strokes at the base. Leaves are brown-purple. Flowering in July. This variety does not bear fruit.

“Sunny Beauty” – up to 1 m high. The flowers are light yellow or cream, collected in inflorescences up to 25 cm long. The leaves are green. Flowering in mid-summer. Fruits regularly.

“President” – up to 1 m high. The flowers are large, bright red. The leaves are green. Flowering in July. Doesn’t bear fruit.

“Livadia” – up to 1 m in height. Flowers crimson red. The leaves are purple. Fruiting is regular.

In addition to those listed above, such varieties of canna are popular, their photos are presented below:

“K.A. Timiryazev”;

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“Louis Cayo”;

“R. Wallas”;

“Gurzuf”;

“Crimean Riviera”;

“Moonlight”;

“Golden Rooster”;

“Lucifer”.

White cannes in the water

Experienced gardeners know that canna flowers grow well immersed in water to a depth of 10 – 20 cm. White cannes grow especially well in water, therefore, in spring and summer, pots with this culture are placed under water in pools located in garden plots. In autumn, they are removed to a greenhouse or winter garden, where they are also placed in large containers filled with water. So that the soil is not washed away, clay is added to it. With a comfortable temperature, good natural light, or additional artificial lighting, they continue to bloom and form new shoots.

You can install stands with pots in any part of the pool. In order for the container to be firmly fixed, various fasteners are used.

For growing in water, Longwood hybrids, which are called “water”, are suitable. The flowers of this group have bright colors: red, pink, yellow, orange. In addition to them, you can use varieties of Indian canna.

Application of cannes

The main use of cannes is the decoration of flower beds and household plots.

Bright, large cannes flowers (see photo) are planted along garden paths, look spectacular when planted in large groups, as well as in the middle of a flower bed in combination with other smaller flowers.

This plant harmoniously looks with cerastiums, undersized coleus, seaside ragwort.

With the onset of frost, the flowers are removed to a well-lit room, where they continue to bloom for some time. Having decided to grow this plant, it should be borne in mind that in the open field it can only grow in regions with a warm climate.

Some types of cannes are used for landscaping as potted and tub crops.

The stems and leaves of the canna serve as food for livestock.

Currently, the rhizomes of this crop, containing up to 27% coarse starch, are sold in stores under the name “Queensland arrowroot”.

The history of canna flowers

The history of canna flowers is rooted in antiquity. The Indians of tropical America baked starchy rhizomes on a fire and ate them. Culture came to Europe from the tropics only in the 16th century thanks to Portuguese sailors. However, Europeans began to use flowers for decorative purposes only in the 17th century. In Russia, they learned about this plant at the beginning of the 17th century under Peter the Great, when, on his orders, a garden office began to work.

Translated from the Greek “canna” means “reed”. And indeed, if you look at the photo of canna flowers, you can see that these plants are similar.

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