Gardening Plant Encyclopedia Water Plants Thalia By Viveka Neveln Viveka Neveln Instagram Viveka Neveln is the Garden Editor at BHG and a degreed horticulturist with broad gardening expertise earned over 3+ decades of practice and study. She has more than 20 years of experience writing and editing for both print and digital media. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on December 23, 2020 Share Tweet Pin Email Thalia Overview Description Also called hardy water canna, thalia has large paddle-shape blue-green leaves. Add this fast-growing water plant to ponds, and rain gardens. Thalia blooms in late summer, sending tall flower stalks above the foliage. The violet-purple flowers last for weeks. Genus Name Thalia dealbata Common Name Thalia Plant Type Water Plant Light Part Sun, Sun Height 3 to 8 feet Width 3 to 6 feet Flower Color Purple Foliage Color Blue/Green Season Features Summer Bloom Special Features Low Maintenance Zones 10, 6, 7, 8, 9 Propagation Division Pairing Thalia Plant Thalia is a great partner for a multitude of aquatic plants. For a bold display, pair it with tropical cannas with their large leaves and boldly colored flowers, such as 'Red Dwarf,' 'Tropical Sunrise,', and 'Dawn Pink'. Employ thalia as a backdrop in the rain garden or pond. Thalia also pairs well with floating plants like waterlilies, which decorate the water surface while thalia stands tall. Thalia Care Thalia grows best in wet soil or in shallow water, full sun, and organically rich loam soil. Grow them outside year-round in Zones 6 through 10. Plant thalia in containers and sink them into a pond so the top of the pot is 18 to 24 inches below the water surface or plant directly in the boggy soil at the edge of a water garden or in a rain garden. Thalia requires little annual maintenance. In fall, cut back foliage to above the water line. Thalia will regrow when soil and air temperatures warm in spring. To divide, dig up an entire clump in spring just after shoots emerge. Using a sharp spade, cut the clump into several pieces and replant. Follow this water garden care guide for healthy and happy water plants. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit