Container-grown
Common formLeafy potted specimens in summer or started plants in spring.
Canna · Indian shot
Canna – species and garden hybrids
Garden
Balcony
Sun
PerennialMedium
For your Canna · Indian shot
All matching products →Profile
Plant group
Rhizomatous perennials for summer borders and containers
Growth & habit
Upright shoots develop from a substantial underground rhizome.
Foliage
Large, entire leaves with parallel veins; green, bronze and striped cultivars.
Family
Canna family (Cannaceae)
Origin
The Americas; Canna indica is native to tropical and subtropical America. Garden cultivars are horticultural selections.
Height
About 50–230 cm depending on cultivar; choose compact types for containers.
Bloom
Usually summer to autumn; a warm start and cultivar affect the first flowers.
Toxicity
Ornamental plants are not intended as food. Store seeds and rhizomes separately from food.
Care calendar
Flowering / flower development
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- JunIndicative season
- JulIndicative season
- AugIndicative season
- SepIndicative season
- OctIndicative season
- Nov
- Dec
Flowering depends on cultivar, warmth and starting time.
Guidance for Germany and Central Europe. Position, weather, species and cultivar shift these windows; indoor and container plants also depend on their winter conditions.
Your seasonal care plan
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January
Check rhizomes for soft patches and excessive drying.
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February
Plan cultivars and pot sizes; select firm rhizomes.
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March
Divide rhizomes and start them in a warm, bright place.
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April
Care evenly for new growth and protect it from cold nights.
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May
Harden off and plant outdoors after frost risk ends.
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June
Meet the water demand of rapid growth and check nutrient supply.
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July
Remove spent flowers while retaining younger buds.
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August
Check moisture inside large containers as well as at the surface.
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September
Retain healthy foliage and prepare winter storage.
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October
Lift rhizomes or shelter containers before hard frost.
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November
Store labelled rhizomes cool with ventilation.
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December
Inspect storage regularly; do not feed dormant rhizomes.
Highlighted months are guidance, not fixed dates. Observe the plant, root ball and weather; water, feed and repot according to actual need.
Seasonal care intensity
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seasonal guidance for Germany. Needs depend on location, weather and species. Check moisture in winter too; these markers are not a feeding schedule.
Peak care
Active
Reduced care
Care tips
- Choose a warm, sunny position.
- Maintain an even water supply while growing.
- Store rhizomes frost-free in winter.
Fruit & seeds
Fruit and seed formation
Pollination may produce warty capsules containing hard, rounded seeds. Some cultivars set little seed.
Harvest and use
This guide concerns ornamental cannas. Divide rhizomes to preserve cultivars; food uses of individual species are not a general recommendation.
Plant knowledge at a glance
Position, benefits & character
Position & soil
Sun, warmth and humus-rich soil support vigorous growth. Containers need drainage and ample root space.
Distinctive features
Showy floral parts include modified stamens. The rhizome is a thickened stem, not a bulb.
Benefits
Large leaves and bold flower colours create a summer focal point. Short cultivars suit border edges; tall ones suit the background.
Partners & symbioses
Combine with summer plants that enjoy similar warmth and allow enough space. Only designated water cannas suit shallow water.
Pruning & growth habit
Upright shoots develop from a substantial underground rhizome.
1. Flower care
Remove spent flowers while retaining further buds on the stem. Healthy leaves feed the rhizome.
2. Before winter storage
After leaves die back, shorten shoots, lift rhizomes carefully and label them.
Nursery forms
This overview explains nursery supply forms. It does not indicate current availability in the GREEN24 shop.
Young plant
Common formGradually acclimatise young plants to sunshine and outdoor air.
Bare-root
Common formDormant rhizomes with firm, healthy growing points; no soft rotten areas.
Propagation & grafting
Propagation
Divide rhizomes in spring, retaining healthy growing points. Let cut surfaces dry and start in warmth. Scarify and soak hard seeds before sowing.
Grafting
Grafting is not usual for canna. Division preserves cultivar traits; seed often produces variable plants.
Species & cultivars
Canna 'Striata'
Yellow-striped foliage and orange flowers.
Canna 'Picasso'
Yellow flowers spotted with red.
Canna 'Wyoming'
Bronze foliage and orange flowers; tall growing.
Pests & diseases
These signs support an initial assessment. Different causes may look alike; choose a treatment only after identifying the problem.
No flowers
Check starting time, warmth, sun and water. A late start may delay flowering.
Unusual leaf patterns
Distinguish normal cultivar stripes from new mosaic markings and distortion. Isolate and assess suspect plants.
New growth
Inspect young leaves for slug damage and stored rhizomes for soft patches.
Hardiness · USDA
Frost-tender rhizomatous perennial
Plan frost-free storage in Germany. Overwinter dormant rhizomes cool and ventilated without wet packing material; about 5–10°C is a useful guide.
- Canna – Gartenhybriden
- USDA 6a–10bNC State explicitly includes winter storage within this cultivation range. It does not imply unprotected outdoor hardiness.
USDA zones describe long-term average winter extremes. Containers, young plants, wet soil, wind and late frost need separate consideration.
Understand USDA zones and maps →A closer look
Botanical features vary with age, species and cultivar.
Matching GREEN24 products
Matching fertilisers and substrates for your plant care.
Blühende Zimmerpflanzen
Canna Fertiliser
Universal- & Basiserden