Bicolor flowers of the Cleopatra Canna Lily

Canna lilies are colorful and versatile plants for the garden. These plants offer both showy flowers and decorative foliage. Although the canna lily is supposed to take only full sun, it can burn in some of the strongest,  hot-sun areas. But if acclimated properly, most cannas can handle everything from sun to shade. Tolerant of dry soil to wet — even able to withstand bog conditions in a pond — this plant accepts a wide range of soils.

The large leaves unfurl in green, bronze, ruby red, pale yellow, burgundy and patterned or linear-etched stripes.  Most canna lilies are hardy into the twenties Fahrenheit, dying down to their tubers (long swollen roots somewhat like narrow sweet potatoes) in the winter — only to reappear in the early spring.  Tough colorful leaves tolerate windy climates so long as they have some protection.

Use this flamboyant plant wherever you want a splash of bold color to accent the ordinary green of most gardens, especially when out of flower. The leaves give a tropical feel to any design and the size and stature make a sculptural statement wherever placed. As if the showy leaves weren’t enough, the canna lily crowns itself with a bouquet of brilliant orange, pink, salmon, yellow or red flowers that should be removed when they wilt to make room for new flowers and more leaves.

You can find canna lilies in dwarf forms at only a foot or two tall or in stately heights to six feet. They offer a lush and powerful statement in any garden. Or use them as a backdrop for lower-growing plants.

The canna lily can be used for many effects in the garden, is easy to grow and is one of the most versatile and showy flowering plants you can use in your garden. There are many cultivars to choose from on the market in catalogs and at your local garden centers.

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