Canna Lilies are easy to grow, quick to propagate, and require relatively low maintenance. They are hardy perennial plants that bring a dynamic touch to the garden, with a variety of beautiful foliage and vibrant floral colours - adding that splash of ‘wow’ that we are all looking for in the garden.
Canna Lilies are perfect as a dense filler - creating an excellent privacy screen to block out an unsightly fence, and easily thrive in damp, boggy zones where other plants often fail to grow.
They love full sun for at least 6 to 8 hours a day, and moist soil which will ensure plenty of flowers.
While Canna Lilies are incredibly hardy perennials, they don't do well with frost. You can protect the rhizomes of in-ground plants by applying a thick layer of mulch. In areas with heavy frost, covering the plants with a sheet or frost cloth will provide extra protection. If your cannas are potted, simply move them to a sheltered spot for the winter.
There are hundreds of different hybrids of Canna Lilies out there, so there is sure to be a colour that will suit your garden.
Canna Lilies usually flower in summer, and up until the first frost. Their flowers come in a variety of colours including red, orange, yellow, pink and cream. The leaves come in some striking colours including green, bronze, burgundy, even variegated and striped combinations.
Canna Indica 'Canna Lily'
Striped Canna Lily leaves
How To Prune Canna Lilies
Before you begin, assess the task ahead. The plant is very hardy, and can handle a hard prune. The clump pictured below is approximately 1 metre square, which may seem like a large job ahead - however, they also grow well in a containers around 20 to 25 litres, provided they have plenty of moisture.
When to Prune
The best time to do a full prune of your Canna Lilies is late autumn or early spring (after your last frost). This is when they start to look untidy with spent flowers, brown tipped or dead leaves, and the weeds start to sprout amongst the stems.
Tools to Use
The plant is very hardy and the stems are very soft, so using an electric hedger works a treat. Depending on the size of your Canna Lily patch, handheld secateurs will work well for smaller plants. You could also use a machete, or a brush hook, depending on the size of your plants and what tools you have on hand.
Deadheading
As the flowers start to fade throughout spring and summer, dead heading the spent flowers can prolong the neat look of the plant. If dead heading, do not cut the entire stem off - simply follow the flowering stem down and you will likely see a new flower bud about to emerge from the lower leaf. Cut the stem just above the new emerging bud.
Initial Clearance- For Large Clumps
Your first pass at pruning doesn't have to be perfect, especially with a large clump. Simply shorten the stems, pull out any weeds, and clear away the cut foliage and debris so you can see what you're working with.
After the initial clearing
Checking For Disease
At this stage, assess your plant again for any signs of pests & disease. Common things to look for are orange spots on leaves - Canna Rust (Puccinia thaliae) or rot around the base (Rhizome Rot). These problems are usually caused by lack of airflow in the plant, so pruning and thinning out the plant should improve the situation.
Clean Up
Once you have most of the stems cut back and you can see into the clump, you can use a rake and pull out the dead leaves and old growth. Now you can go in with your secateurs and trim the stalks down to roughly 10-20 cm from the ground - this will help tidy up the clump. Ensuring your cuts are clean will prevent disease from entering rough ended stalks, giving your new growth their best starting chance.
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Now you can see what’s going on in the root zone
Thinning (Optional)
This is also a good time to dig up any rhizomes (tubers, or roots) to thin out your plant, and to make new plants to give away to friends or start another patch in your garden. Lift a clump out using a garden fork or spade, shake or wash of any excess soil so you can see the rhizome. Check for eyes or buds and roots on the rhizome – this is your new plant. If the clump is too big, simply cut it apart with your spade or a knife. Just pop the rhizomes into a pot with some potting soil and water in. It will start to sprout in a few days.
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Dead leaves raked out and loose stems trimmed
New shoots emerging at the base
Disposing of Trimmings
The trimmings that you have taken from your Canna Lily are perfect for green mulch, use it as a chop and drop mulch or chopped it up and placed into your compost bin.
Important
Be sure not to add any roots, rhizomes, or shoots into your compost bin or in your mulch. It's better to pot them up to make new plants or dispose into your general rubbish bin, as they can become invasive.
New growth after a few weeks
Tips & Observations
If your Canna Lily looks like it needs some fertilizer - using blood and bone, well-rotted manure, or a slow-release balanced fertilizer will work well.
Mulch around the clump to prevent weeds, and after a few days your Canna Lilies will be starting to sprout again.
The downsides of Canna Lilies? They can become an invasive weed in natural waterways, which can crowd out native plants due to their thick clumping growth. Therefore, it is very important to dispose of rhizomes and seeds thoughtfully. Your local Shire Office in your area can provide further information.
Canna Lilies offer a stunning, visual impact - with easy low maintenance. They are a hardy plant that is great for beginner or advanced gardeners, adding lush foliage and bright stand out flowers for any space.
Article & Photographs by Natalea Erskine
