CANNA 2018

I've still got Cleo, and some Wyoming and another called Kreta, just feeding and watering, should have repotted, but didn't get myself motivated.

The ones in the ground have come up but the dry has stopped nearly any growth from happening.

I think the seedling I repotted was C. speciosa.

 

Down here it has been a good year for cannas......some have been watered whilst others were heavily mulched in spring. They have made lots of growth and most are in flower
Touch wood, no sign of virus on them either.
I find cannas adaptable...they will grow in dry, not too dry, spots as well as in boggy ground

 

I have grown a couple as pond marginal, summer plants, but I dont think all are adaptable to water logging, I guess it depends on the parentage.

 

Think you are prob right Pete
I grow a few tall cannas but want to try some dwarf varieties next year....Harts Cannas have some very tempting ones

 

I bought this canna red shades the other day for a discounted price. I'd like it to stay roughly where it is now. How winter hardy is it? Can I divide it? Can I mix it with spring bulbs?

G.

 

Canna Red Shades is just a marketing name and gives no idea as to its parentage. It's pretty safe to assume that it comes from the "Dutch sheds" and as such the breeding stock will be grown under artificial conditions. As they will have seen nothing approaching winter weather in generations I would assume naff all winter hardiness. Pretty dry in the shed over the winter, into the greenhouse mid to late March then outdoors in full sun when all risk of frost has passed. They are greedy feeders and like plenty of water when in growth.
It might survive in the ground up against the house wall with a mulch but I wouldn't be overly optimistic.

 

Morning Gary
Cannas are tender plants. Survive down here over winter but risky in most places.
So put it in a gh, cold frame or similar when it gets colder. Keep on the dry side too. In other words treat as you do dahlias.
Divide it in spring but best to do this when a year older.
Mix with other bulbs? Not for me. Cannas form thick tubers and make vigorous clumps. Here for example I have some of them as 5' wide clumps in the soil so other bulbs would not cope with them. In pots too they make thick roots so best as solo plants....next year your clump will be much bigger so I would pot on early next spring.

 

C.paniculata is fully hardy even here in the Cotswolds. It self seeds too.

 

They are hardier than most people think, my only reservations on leaving them in the ground is that they dont often reshoot until around early June, which is OK, but then in most years they get too dry.
I just find container growing much better as I can start them off earlier, and control watering better.

 

Cannas here flower profusely from late June to autumn......self supporting giants offering superb foliage colour (according to variety) and exotic flowers! Everyone should have a go at growing them

 

I think you have to agree though, you are probably in one of the few places in the UK where you can do this due to lack of winter frost?
There probably are other spots in the UK but pretty few and far between.

 

I don't have a greenhouse. The best I have is a shed. At the moment it is still in flower so I'll leave it as it is. In the spring I'll think about dividing it and potting it up.

G.

 

I dont think you will need to divide that one next year , it appears to be mostly one stem this year?
A shed will be fine, but just let it dry out first, then cut off the top growth.

 

Think you are right Pete....we take growing such things for granted. Lack the fantastic autumn colours though of you guys further east and north so

A shed is fine Gary....just somewhere to keep it frost free. It will be too small to divide next spring. You will end up with a couple of non flowering unimpressive pot plants. Pot it on (john innes) in spring and you will have a nice impact plant