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Herbaceous Perennial

Canna brasiliensis

Brazilian canna

Clump-forming perennial with broadly lance-shaped, dark green leaves often tinged with bronze. Clusters of bright red and yellow, or orange, iris-like flowers, 5-8cm across, are produced on upright stems up to 1.8m tall from mid-summer to autumn

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.1–0.5 metres

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun

Aspect

South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Cannaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming, Columnar upright
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: Correct
Plant range: Tropical Americas

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in a sheltered site in fertile soil in full sun, 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 seed (sown indoors), or propagate by division in early spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

City and courtyard gardens
Cottage and informal garden
Mediterranean climate plants
Sub-tropical
Patio and container plants
Bedding
Conservatory and greenhouse
Flower borders and beds
Wall side borders

Pruning

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

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, slugs and caterpillars

Diseases

May be susceptible to canna viruses

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