Canna indica

RHS Plant Profile

Indian shot

Dorling Kindersley Ltd

Other common names

achira, arrowroot, flowering reed, flowering shot, Indian reed, Queensland, tous-les-mois

Synonyms

Canna 'Limbata'
Canna indica 'Edulis'
Canna limbata
Canna patens
Canna indica var. sanctae-rosae
Canna discolor
Canna lanuginosa

Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse

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An erect perennial to around 2m tall with ovate, dark green leaves often flushed bronze. Racemes of small red or dark orange flowers with some yellow on the lip are borne from midsummer into early autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 1.5-2.5 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

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): 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: Correct
Plant Range: Neotropics

How to Grow

Cultivation

As a patio plant grow in pots of peat-free compost in a sheltered site in full sun. Plants can also be planted into a sunny border. Water freely and apply a high potassium feed every 2-3 weeks in the growing season. Lift the rhizomes in autumn when frost blackens the foliage. Store over winter in barely moist compost in frost-free conditions. See canna cultivation for further information

Propagation

Propagate by seed (sown indoors) or propagate by division of rhizomes in spring

Suggested planting locations and garden types

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

Pruning

Leave to die back in autumn, deadhead flowers to prolong flowering

Pests

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

Diseases

May be susceptible to canna viruses