Canna Lily Canna 'Verdi'
ABOUT
The Canna 'Verdi' is a striking perennial plant known for its vibrant foliage and showy flowers. The leaves are a lush green, often with a glossy appearance, which forms a clump of paddle-shaped leaf blades that provide a tropical feel to the garden. Its flowers are the most distinctive feature, blooming in a bold and eye-catching shade that can vary from red to orange or yellow. The petals have a slightly ruffled look, which adds texture to the plant's overall appearance. The Canna 'Verdi' flowers usually develop on tall spikes that rise above the foliage, creating a layered effect in their natural setting. This plant can often be seen adding a splash of color to water gardens, borders, or as a focal point in a large container. Despite its exotic look, it is relatively easy to grow in a variety of garden settings.
About this plant
NamesFamily
Cannaceae
Synonyms
Garden Canna, Canna Lily
Common names
Canna 'Verdi'.
ToxicityTo humans
Canna is not known to have significant toxicity to humans. While they are not typically considered poisonous, as with many plants, if ingested in large quantities, they could potentially cause mild stomach upset due to the presence of insoluble oxalates, which can irritate the mouth and gastrointestinal tract. However, cases of human poisoning are rare, and the canna plant is primarily an ornamental species that poses little threat to human health if touched or accidentally ingested in small amounts.
To pets
Canna plants are generally considered non-toxic to pets such as dogs and cats. While they do contain insoluble oxalates that could potentially cause mild gastrointestinal upset if consumed in large amounts, they are unlikely to pose a serious risk. Symptoms in pets, if any, might include drooling, vomiting, or diarrhea, but significant toxic reactions are not common. Owners should still discourage pets from chewing on canna plants to avoid any potential discomfort.
CharacteristicsLife cycle
Perennials
Foliage type
Deciduous
Color of leaves
Green
Flower color
Orange
Height
3-4 feet (0.91-1.22 meters)
Spread
1-2 feet (0.30-0.61 meters)
Plant type
Bulb
Hardiness zones
8
Native area
South America
Benefits
General Benefits- Easy to grow: Canna 'Verdi' is a low maintenance plant that adapts well to various soil types and growing conditions.
- Ornamental appeal: With its striking green foliage and vibrant flowers, it adds a splash of color to gardens and landscapes.
- Attracts pollinators: The flowers of Canna 'Verdi' attract bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, promoting biodiversity.
- Fast-growing: This plant can quickly fill in spaces in the garden, providing lush coverage and enhancing the garden's aesthetics.
- Drought-resistant: Once established, Canna 'Verdi' can tolerate periods of drought, making it suitable for xeriscaping.
- Provides structure: Its tall stature and broad leaves can be used to create visual impact and structure in garden design.
- Works well in containers: It can thrive in pots and containers, making it flexible for patios, balconies, and small spaces.
- Season-long bloom: Canna 'Verdi' can flower from late spring to frost, offering extended seasonal interest.
- Versatile landscape use: It can be used in a variety of landscaping themes, including tropical, contemporary, or cottage gardens.
- Erosion control: The vigorous root system of Canna 'Verdi' can help stabilize soil and control erosion on slopes.
Medical PropertiesThis plant is not used for medical purposes.
Air-purifying QualitiesThis plant is not specifically known for air purifying qualities.
Other Uses- Canna lily leaves can be used as natural plates or wrappers for food; their large size allows them to hold various types of food, similar to banana leaves in some tropical cuisines.
- The fibrous nature of Canna lily stalks can be utilized for making paper or cardboard, offering an alternative raw material for paper production.
- You can create a Canna lily dye from the flowers, providing a natural colorant for fabrics, though results and color fastness can vary greatly.
- These plants can serve as a bioindicator species in gardens or wetlands, signaling soil or water conditions through their growth and health.
- Canna lily seeds, which are hard and bead-like, can be used in jewelry making or as a component in musical instruments like maracas.
- Harvested Canna lily leaves can be plaited or woven to create eco-friendly, biodegradable garden mats or screens.
- The attractive foliage and flowers of the Canna lily make it useful in art and photography as a subject for botanical drawings, paintings, or as background scenery.
- Canna lily rhizomes can be used in compost heaps as a carbon-rich material, aiding in the composting process.
- The stalks and leaves of Canna lily, when dried, may serve as kindling or as part of sustainable fire-starting bundles for camping and outdoor activities.
- Children can use the large, sturdy Canna lily leaves in creative play for making impromptu shelters or as part of nature crafts.
Interesting Facts
Feng ShuiThe Canna is not used in Feng Shui practice.
Zodiac Sign CompitabilityThe Canna is not used in astrology practice.
Plant Symbolism- Exotic beauty: Canna plants, often referred to as canna lilies, showcase large and colorful flowers, symbolizing unique and striking beauty.
- Vibrancy and Energy: With their bold and bright flowers, canna lilies represent a sense of vibrancy and liveliness, often associated with the festive joy of summer.
- Transformation: The canna lily’s growth process from rhizome to flower is symbolic of transformation and change, as it blooms into something beautiful from seemingly nothing.
- Creativity: The artistic look of the canna lily's flowers, with their vivid hues, can signify creativity and an inspiration for artists and gardeners alike.
WaterCanna lilies, including the Canna 'Verdi', prefer consistently moist soil, so it's essential to water them regularly. During the growing season, water the plants at least once a week with about one to two gallons of water per plant, ensuring the soil remains damp but not waterlogged. Increase the frequency to twice a week during periods of extreme heat or drought. It's best to water deeply and less frequently rather than little and often, as this encourages deeper root growth. Always avoid overhead watering to prevent disease, and water early in the morning to allow foliage to dry out during the day.
LightCanna 'Verdi', like other canna lilies, thrives best in full sunlight, where the plant can receive at least six hours of direct sunlight daily. It can tolerate some light shade, especially in hotter climates, but flowering may be reduced in less than full sun. The ideal spot for your canna lilies would be a south-facing location that is shielded from strong winds to prevent damage to the tall stalks.
TemperatureCanna lilies, including the Canna 'Verdi', grow best in temperatures between 60 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. They can tolerate a minimum temperature of around 55 degrees Fahrenheit and are not frost-tolerant. In regions where temperatures drop below this point, rhizomes should be lifted and stored indoors over winter. The ideal growing conditions are warm and humid, as they are native to tropical and subtropical regions.
PruningFor Canna 'Verdi' and other canna lilies, pruning is mostly done to remove spent flowers and damaged or diseased leaves, which encourages further blooming and maintains plant health. Prune canna lilies throughout the growing season as needed, cutting back to the next side shoot or leaf junction. The best time to do a major cutback is in late fall or early winter, after the first frost has browned the foliage, cutting the plants down to a few inches above the ground.
CleaningAs needed
SoilCanna Lilly 'Verdi' thrives best in a rich, well-draining soil mix with a pH of 6.0 to 6.5. To prepare the ideal soil mix, combine two parts peat or coco coir, one part perlite or vermiculite, and one part compost or well-rotted manure. This ensures both good drainage and high fertility, catering to the plant’s need for consistent moisture and ample nutrients.
RepottingCanna Lilly 'Verdi' generally needs to be repotted every one to two years or when it becomes pot-bound. As a fast grower, regular repotting helps to replenish the soil's nutrients and expand the root growing space, ensuring vigorous growth and bloom.
Humidity & MistingCanna Lilly 'Verdi' prefers high humidity levels but is quite adaptable to average outdoor conditions. Aim for around 60% relative humidity for the healthiest growth if grown indoors or in greenhouse settings.
Suitable locationsIndoor
Provide bright light, warm temps, and high humidity for indoor Canna Lilies.
Outdoor
Plant in full sun, rich soil, and keep well-watered outdoors.
Hardiness zone
7-11 USDA
Life cycleCanna 'Verdi', also known as Canna Lily, begins its life cycle with the germination of rhizomes in the warm soil of spring. Once the rhizomes sprout, the plant rapidly grows into large, paddle-shaped leaves, forming a lush foliage. In mid-summer to early fall, the Canna Lily blooms, producing vibrant flowers that range in color, attracting pollinators like bees and hummingbirds. After the flowering period, the plant sets seeds that can be collected before the first frost if propagation by seed is desired. As temperatures drop in autumn, the Canna Lily's above-ground foliage dies back, and the plant enters dormancy, with the rhizomes surviving underground through winter. In the following spring, the cycle restarts when new shoots emerge from the surviving rhizomes to continue the growth process.
PropogationPropogation time
Spring to Summer
The most popular method of propagation for the Canna 'Verdi', commonly known as Canna Lily, is by dividing the rhizomes. This is best done in the spring as the new growth begins to emerge. Gardeners should carefully dig up the whole plant and then use a sharp knife to cut the rhizome into sections, each with at least one eye or growth bud. Make sure the knife is clean to prevent the spread of disease. Each divided section should be about 3 to 5 inches long (approximately 7.5 to 12.5 cm). The sections are then planted about 2 inches deep (5 cm) in well-draining soil and spaced 1 to 2 feet apart (30 to 60 cm) to allow for growth. Water the newly planted rhizomes thoroughly to establish them in their new location.
