Cannas still going!
Last year I grew cannas for the first time, starting with just a couple of 'Tropicana' rhizomes that I got in a trade and adding a mid-summer bargain with Canna 'Paton'. This year due to the expanding nature of Cannas I had more Tropicana and Paton plants -- I think the number of 'Paton' in my yard tripled -- and I added Canna 'Wyoming', the "regular" green-leaved canna, and this Canna indica 'Madeira':
They've really surprised me, flowering for very long stretches of the summer and fall, and some of them are still going strong today!
I've got at least five cannas still in bloom, possible more, so here's a look at the beauty that these care-free plants are providing me with on this chilly autumn day:
Most of these will be dug up (if in-ground) or removed from their pots and stored in the garage for the winter once the frost kills the foliage, but I think I'll experiment with just mulching over some of the in-ground ones, leaving them in place. If we have as mild a winter as we did last year they will do fine, and even with a typical winter the better-sited ones can survive that way I think.
I haven't made up my mind yet though, as I'd hate to lose some of these -- I'm not yet quite overrun with canna rhizomes.
I think I will be after next year though, which is a good thing, right?
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What uplifting colours!
I agree, cannas are about the easiest and most care-free tropical bloomers imaginable. What's the first cultivar? I love the two-tone flowers.
Gerhard: it says just before the photo, Canna indica 'Madeira'. Good thing your job doesn't require a lot of reading. ;-)
Alan, I swear I didn't see that. In my defense it was only 9am in the morning, ha ha.
Love the colour and the foliage is bold and works will. I like it!