This Blog contains Wildlife and Bird Photos from Walks, Safaris, Birding Trips and Vacations. Most of the pictures have been taken with my Nikon P900 and P950X cameras.
If you click on the label underneath the picture it will link to all of the photos taken for that species. Just click on any image for a large picture.
Canna are plants belonging to the genus Canna, which includes about 10 species of herbaceous perennials that produce showy flowers on tall stems with large, paddle-shaped leaves. Many of the Canna sold today are hybrid plants that are most likely a cross between two species: Canna indica and Canna glauca, resulting in many different cultivars with a wide variety of flower colors and foliage variegation. These hybrids are all classified under the scientific name Canna x generalis. Hybrid canna are native to tropical and subtropical regions of North and South America and India. Because of their striking beauty, Canna are one of the Community Beautification Program’s most beloved plants. Pictured above are the two types of Canna we grow. In the foreground, the shorter, green-leafed variety are dwarf varieties of Canna x generalis. Behind those, the taller plants with bronze and orange variegated leaves are a variety of Canna indica called Tropicanna. Dwarf Canna tend to grow up to 3 feet tall and work equally well in the ground and in large containers. Tropicanna, on the other hand, can grow up to 6 feet tall, and are best grown in the ground due the large rhizomes they form. Although one of their common names is Canna Lily, Cannas are not actually lilies. They are considered rhizomatous bulbs in the family Cannaceae. In our zone 6 climate, they must be lifted and stored in the fall, as they cannot survive the cold winters. Canna grow best in high heat, full sun, and consistently moist, well-draining soil.
