Picking tip
Create a distinct
scheme with canna
lilies – with their
beautiful colour
palette you can’t
go wrong! Cut the
thicker stalks for a
tall vase just before
they burst into
bloom. Then over two
to four days each bud
will open in all its
glory. A bonus is the
foliage is long lasting.There’s nothing subtle about cannas
- they’re impressive planted en masse
and once summer comes around, they
burst into stunning displays of soft,
velvety petals in crimson red, golden,
cream and tangerine sitting high on
slender stalks above the lush green
foliage. While they’re not a traditional
cut flower, they can make a showy
centrepiece in a large, tall vase.
Grow it
Cannas are robust perennials native to
the tropical and subtropical Americas.
In the garden, they suit warm climates,
or anywhere that is frost-free, thriving in
full sun to part shade. Once established
the plants should be kept moist and fed
periodically with a phosphate-rich fertiliser
for continual bloom. Their vibrantly
coloured flowers are great for attracting
bees and butterflies to your garden.
Cut back once flowering is finished.
Propagate in spring by dividing clumps.Canna lily
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Canna ‘Bengal Tiger’ Canna ‘Tropicanna’Canna ‘Cleopatra’20 BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS, FEBRUARY 2017 bhg.com.au