Saturday, January 15, 2011

Canna to brighten our day


CANNACEAE - Dwarf Canna Lucifer (Canna x generalis Lucifer)
Originally uploaded by kaiyanwong223

Brrr, so many of my blog friends are posting beautiful photos of snow that to warm up I needed to buy a bright plant for our garden.
We have a long row of red cannas, and a few orange cannas; I don't know their varieties since they are passalong plants, given to us by a neighbor. Cannas add a tropical splash of color to a garden.
But I went to a garden center today and bought a Lucifer canna (2 roots in a package), dug a 4 inch deep hole for each one and planted them in the row with our other cannas. I got a big spring time lift in my spirits for a mere $4 for the package.
Boy they look spectacular on the package photo, with red leaves edged in yellow.
The flowering height for Lucifer Canna is 30 inches. The others I have flower on stalks 3 to 5 feet tall, which is a common height for these beauties.
Cannas grow in all zones in the USA, and in zones 1-3 need to be lifted and stored inside over winter. I am in zone 8 or 9 so they are happy here all year.
They need full sun, and do well as borders or in large tubs on patios or poolside.
Do any of you enjoy growing cannas too?

28 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

It's beautiful. I was just telling my husband that I am going to take some picture from the yard to post. Everyone is posting their snow so I thought I would post our flowers.

Unknown said...

I raised beautiful canna in Hawaii & enjoyed every single blossom ... they are so rich & stately.

Have a beautiful PS weekend.
TTFN ~
Hugs, Marydon

Mari said...

I really like them, but we don't grow them because we would have to dig them up every Fall. Lucky you!

Anonymous said...

Those are beautiful. I love cannas. I had the tall variety at our old house but we have the shorter ones now and I have better luck with them. We have a salmon color, and a bright yellow with little orange freckles. They are very easy and I enjoy the bright colors. Thanks for brightening my day.

Denise said...

I grow only the yellow ones..... dwarf...... They are amazing! I have them along my back fence.... then I have spider wort in front of that and they are purple.. then in front of that I am going to put yellow daisy mums........ Nice

farmlady said...

These plants are so beautiful. I transplanted one from my son's house when he lived in the central valley and it's still alive but never flowers. I don't know why.
Yours will be beautiful. Just what the snow bound bloggers need to warm them up.

Amrita said...

I love cannas, they grow wild here

Anonymous said...

They couldn't grow way up here in the CO mountains, so I'll just enjoy yours. They're lovely! :)
Zuzu

Unknown said...

Exquisite! I don't usually grow cannas here because it's just too cool and too windy in the summers for them to do well on my hill. My sister has some in a more sheltered locale in other part of province and they're gorgeous. Just the sort of warm colour we need in winter!

highheeledlife said...

These are real beauties!!! definitely a promise of spring... for here in Toronto area it is snowy and cold..

I have left an award for you on my blog...xo HHL

Foxglove said...

Such a beautiful flower they certainly brighten up the day full of sunshine and happiness that makes me smile.

Have a warm and bright week. xxx

May said...

Thanks Terra for stopping by my blog!! I am a passionate gardener, but have no clue as to how to go about gardening in Germany as am not used to this extreme weather. My plants seem to die, hence I have given up. Back home in India, we dread the Cana plant as it grows very wild, just spreading about like fire!! And then, it is pretty hard to uproot them.

Unknown said...

Your cannas are beautiful! We planted some canna by our creek and love to see how they spread. Great plants to add a pop of color (ours are orange) and I love the varigated foliage! Thanks for posting some pictures of flowering plants to help us look forward to spring! Have a great week! God bless!

The Painted Garden said...

Hi Terra,

What a beautiful plant. I do not have any experience with the Canna - such a pretty flower I want to try one.
Thank you for introducing us to
a new flower.
Have a lovely week.
Blessings,
Erin

Kathleen Grace said...

I don't grow cannas, Up in Michigan I would have to lift them in the fall and I just never get around to that, but seeing these sure makes me long for springtime!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Sure shootin' I do! I have 'em scattered throughout the acre here on the Ponderosa I call my yard!

God bless ya and have a marvelus week sweetie!!!

Lynn said...

Your cannas are very beautiful! We used to grow yellow cannas along the side of our front porch, but after having them grow there a few years, I had my husband dig them all up last year and now we don't have anything growning along there. Maybe this planting season I will decide on what to plant there. My cannas looked nice, and came up every year, but, I just wanted a change in the scenery there.

I love many flowers and love looking at beautiful flower gardens... I'm hoping to get more flowers planted in our flower garden areas this year.. I didn't plant any last year.

Thank you for stopping by my blog and for leaving such a kind comment. I loved having you, and stop by to visit me anytime...

Blessings,
~Lynn

Tiffany said...

Beautiful flowers!

Buttercup said...

Love seeing photos of the cannas. So much more fun than our snowy landscape. Definitely needed a splash of color in our gray landscape. Thanks!

Kritter Keeper at Farm Tails said...

hi terra! i love cannas but do not have any. in wv i think you really have to either dig them up each fall or cover them with deep bedding. i am in zone 6. thanks for visiting my blog farm tails!

Country Mouse said...

Actually for me Cannas hold promise but not so much fulfillment. Maybe in our more coastal zone they are not quite happy. We get lots of sun but also lots of rain and fog in winter. They get very messy and have lots of drab dead stuff amid the blooms. So disappointing - I love how they look when they're happy!

Vicki said...

Yes, Terra, I love cannas, too. They give such a "tropical feel" to our gardens. Thank you for "warming up" this cold day in Texas with your beautiful photos. Have a terrific weekend, my friend! Love and hugs to you! Vicki

lotusgirl said...

I don't grow much, but I take pictures of whatever grows around me. I like snow and flowers together.

Cinnamon said...

Wow... what a gogeous flower. Never knew their real name, just called them a purty flower...LO

~*~ saskia ~*~ said...

Hi Terra, canna really does brighten my day! It's oh so beautiful!!
Do you mean 'the cup of our life' by Joyce Rupp? I had never heard of this lady, but google is telling me wonderful things about her!
Wishing you a wonderful, Wintery, warm weekend, Terra xxx

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Just gorgeous Terra!
I can't even imagine flowers like that right now!
Go Packers!
Hugs,
Cindy

Terry said...

Howdy Terra
God bless you !
I miss my cannas the below freezing finally took its toll on all of my flower beds even the ones that have been covered up with hay for winter protection.
This was such a delightful sight to see today .
Thank you so much for bringing sunshine into my world today .
Big hugs coming to you from me :)
Until next time
Happy Trails

Julie Marie said...

Hi Terra... your cannas are beautiful!... and I just love your birdhouses with hearts in your previous post!... xoxo Julie Marie