SCIENTIFIC NAME: Canna x generalis

COMMON NAME: Canna

FAMILY: Cannaceae

TYPE: perennial in zone 8

LEAVES: large, 6" wide to 2' long, green, blue-green, red or purple depending on cultivar, entire margin, sheathing petioles

FLOWER: up to 4" across, 2 flower forms--gladiolus (more popular) and orchid; red, yellow, orange, pink, white, solid or bicolors

SEASON OF BLOOM: summer/fall

GROWTH HABIT: 1' to 5' depending on cultivar, erect

SOIL: moist, fertile

SUN: full sun to part shade, thrives in hot weather but requires good moisture

HARDINESS: zone 8-10

UTILIZATION: background or mass plantings, containers; for coarse textures or vertical lines in landscape

DISEASES: bud rot, rust, aster yellows

INSECTS AND RELATED PESTS: Japanese beetle, woolly bear caterpillar

PROPAGATION: seed, division of rhizomes

MAINTENANCE: divide every 2 to 3 years to enhance continued flowering; deadhead

CULTIVARS: 'Tropical Rose' All-America Winner in 1992, rose-pink flowers, 3' tall