With such a riveting presence,
cannas can be hard to ignore.

A Problem - Few Flowers

Today's modern cannas are the can-do, go-to, problems-few flowers that modern gardeners crave. From the cold winter gardens of the North to the hot spots of the South, low-maintenance cannas can do color in just about any climate.You might walk right past pastel plants that blend into the landscape, but cannas are the divas of garden design; they refuse to be ignored. New varieties sizzle with colorful leaves, dashing blooms, and compact habits.

Cannas grow from swollen roots known as rhizomes and are treated as an annual in cold-winter climates or as a perennial in frost-free locations. In mild-winter areas, cannas can be left outdoors in the ground all winter, as long as they are planted in a mound for good drainage and covered with a waterproof tarp and mulch to keep their roots warm and dry.

Cannas have strong stems that rarely need staking and are resistant to many insects, but they do have some demands to keep them handsome and happy.

• Full sun
• Lots of heat
• Good air circulation
• Soil rich in organic matter
• Wind protection to avoid tattered leaves
• Continual pruning for regrowth