Ah, the canna lily. A little bit of the exotic West Indies here in Somerset. I’m not sure what I like best, the great big sculptural flowers or the paddle shaped leathery leaves? Okay, I like both. I especially like that they're relatively easy to grow.
Originally brought back to the UK by plant hunters trekking around South America and the West Indies, there are some pretty varieties from dwarfs you can keep in patio pots, to giant varieties that can offer a showpiece that will grow up to 10 feet tall!
Aside from the height, the flowers also come in a huge variety of colours. So if you’re looking for floral fireworks in a hot, citrusy show of red, burnt oranges, yellows and even a few pinks and whites – something to really ooo and ahhh over – then the canna, can be for you.
But how do you grow these exotic lovelies. Surely there must be some secret? As they have grown up in the hot tropics, it’s no surprise that they thrive in full sun. They also like a bed warmed by the summer – so plant out after frosts – and water regularly to keep them nice and moist. In fact, if you’re looking for a plant that will thrive well in a bog garden or next to a pond, you could do a lot worse than a canna. They also do extremely well in cooler conservatories.
Planting and Care: Plant in full sun, keep moist and add a liquid feed once a month. As they’re tender, wait until the soil has been well warmed (at least to 15 degrees) and all threat of frost has passed before planting cannas outdoors – usually late May in Somerset. Deadhead throughout the summer to encourage flowering and when there are no more buds prune to the next side shoot where another flower should develop. They do need their space, so don’t crowd them in. Plant 1 -2 feet apart and make sure they’re well weeded. When the temperature dips, the tubers will need to be dug up and brought indoors to be overwintered.
Where can I buy them? I’m so glad you asked that. We've been selling them at The Station Approach in Frome over the past few years and you can now, of course, buy them through Plant a Border.
We're planning to be at The Station Approach every first Saturday of the month from 8am until 1pm.
Use the Contact page to get in touch and we'll be happy to let you know what we're upto.
Comments