Calhoun County, AL – Tropical Canna Lilies are rhizomes. In zones with deep freezes, they can become mush. However! I have planted them for years in zones 7 and 8 and never saw any delay in summer blooming. Unlike the rhizomes of Iris that do not need to be planted deep, Canna Lily need the soil covering of 4-6 inches with mulch for the winters. I always plant my Canna Lilies at the bottom of a hill or a deep trench to assure water access. Wherever my elephant ears are, that is a signal where I will plant Canna Lilies to receive the most moisture. I use Wyoming Canna Lily stalks in the shade. They will not bloom in the shade but the bronze, wine leaves are a great color contrast to my shade garden. My favorite Canna Lily is Picasso. They grow tall stalks of lime green with yellow flowers with red dots. The most exotic Canna Lily I grow is Nirvana. They grow chartreuse-striped stalks with red flower sheaths that bust open yellow. Be sure to divide your Canna Lilies every 2-3 years or sooner. If you do not give them space, you will see a decrease in bloom production. In the spring, I dig up a few Canna Lilies to create planter boxes and containers. Their stalks are the vertical focus of the planters, with spiller English Ivy. If you want giant stalks and repeated blooms, always plant them in full sun. I use Dipel Dust to control roll worms from sealing the leaves. My watering calendar always includes extra water weekly during summer for all Canna Lily zones.
Betty Clark is a contributing writer. She has been an organic gardener since 1998. The signature flower she grows is Dahlias. She has a straw bale garden, a raised bed garden, and an in-ground garden. Both her surnames are agricultural farming families (8 generations). Her hobbies include ancestry research, antiques, continued education classes, and workshops. She also has a background in marketing & promotions including expos. To contact Betty Clark with gardening questions: bettyclark2151959@gmail.com
