Canna 'Cleopatra'

RHS Plant Profile
canna 'Cleopatra'

Synonyms

Canna 'Yellow Humbert' misapplied

Award of Garden Merit
Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse

A vigorous, clump-forming perennial to 1.2m tall. The large leaves may be green, bronze or a mixture of the two, and the flowers, produced from mid-summer to mid-autumn may be red, yellow or a mixture

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

0.5-1 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
0.5-1 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cannaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump forming
Genus
Canna are rhizomatous herbaceous perennials with erect stems bearing ovate leaves, with showy flowers with showy petal-like staminodes and small, coloured petals and sepals, borne in racemes or panicles in summer and autumn
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Outdoors grow in a sheltered site in fertile soil in full sun or semi-shade, planting in early summer once frosts have passed. Water freely in dry weather and apply a high potassium fertiliser monthly. Lift the rhizomes in autumn when frost blackens the foliage. Store over winter in barely moist peat-free potting mix or leaf mould in frost-free conditions. In mild areas leave in the ground but cover with a dry mulch. See canna cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by division of rhizomes in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Coastal
  • Cottage and informal garden
  • Architectural
  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Flower borders and beds
  • Bedding
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

Remove dead flowers individually to promote continued flowering. Leave to die back in autumn

Pests

Maybe susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to canna viruses