Canna lilies are hybrids, with natural canna species hybridizing as well as people creating more hybrids to obtain different bloom color combinations. Canna cleopatra is one of the most highly sought-after varieties, with striking yellow, orange, and red petals and broad tropical leaves, but it’s an unstable hybrid, meaning that it can be difficult to recreate exactly. Considered to be taxonomically unique, cannas exist solely in their own family: Cannaceae.
Native to Central and South America, many canna hybrids now have a parent species that is native to North America, as they’re quite popular as decorative plants. However, they are a tropical species, and do best in temperate to tropical climates, as they cannot survive extended periods of cold or drought.
One variety of canna, canna edulis, has starchy, edible roots that can be eaten raw, cooked, or after being dried and ground into an arrowroot powder to be used in cooking. Though not considered toxic, canna cleopatra, on the other hand, isn’t viewed as being particularly palatable.
Due to their brilliantly colorful, large flowers, bees, butterflies, and moths are all frequent visitors of this plant. Wastewater treatment and wetland remediation studies have found canna lilies to be exceptional at removing excess phosphate and phosphorous, as well as carbon and nitrogen without adding to the biological oxygen demand put on the ecosystem. As an added bonus, cannas are pest resistant!
Canna Lily Growth, Hardiness & Climate
As tropical wetland plants, canna lilies do not survive well in dry areas or cold areas. From that perspective, they’re not particularly hardy – but given what they need (adequate warmth within zones 8 and above as well as moisture), they grow and live robustly and beautifully. Full sun will enable the largest, brightest flowers; in the shade, they will devote more energy to creating large leaves for capturing more light, and less to their blooms.
Their roots are actually rhizomes, meaning that they are able to spread and grow relatively easily without much, if any, assistance. They are pachymorphs, indicating that their rhizomes don’t spread indefinitely like that of invasive phragmites (the bane of ponders and ecologists alike), but rather end when they form bulbs or when the season freezes them out.
Cannas grow fairly fast, able to develop from bulb to mature, flowering plant in about 10 to 12 weeks. Some canna lilies can grow over five feet tall! Cleopatras, though, tend to grow to a maximum of around 3 feet or less. They are just as happy in moist soil as they are in a couple of inches of water.
Cannas typically bloom for 3 to 4 months during the summer, but can bloom year-round if you live in a tropical region with year-round moisture and mild temperatures. Each flower can last anywhere from several days to several weeks.
How to Plant Canna Lily In Ponds
Canna “bulbs,” or, more accurately, rhizomes, should be buried with one to two inches of soil above them, and placed three or more feet apart to allow for proper growth. You should water the soil thoroughly after planting, enough to saturate down to the rhizomatous “bulb.”
They can also be planted along the shallow edge of your pond, either as rhizomes or as already established plants. This will eliminate the need for water every couple of days. If planted above water in soil, cover with a thin layer of mulch to help hold in moisture.
How to Care For Canna Lily
Canna lilies don’t need much – keep them in a fully sunny or mostly sunny area, and water sprouted plants every other day if the climate is consistently hot and sunny (i.e. during the height of summer). Plants that haven’t yet sprouted above ground, and those in cooler temperatures, can be watered only once or twice a week. Of course, if cannas are planted emergently in shallow waters, watering is not necessary. You’ll know they’re not receiving enough water if the leaves begin to crack and tear.
Sometimes, taller cannas with many flowers may droop over from their own height and weight. You can simply stake them to help them stay upright. Remove any dead or dying flowers from the plant, both to keep them from falling into your pond and degrading water quality as well as to help the plant more quickly devote energy to developing new flowers.
How to Winter Canna Lily
Canna lily is incredibly sensitive to frost, and as such the bulbs will need to be dug up in the autumn if you live below zone 8. Otherwise, the bulbs will freeze and then rot once the ground thaws. Canna lilies, particularly the cleopatra variety, are specially bred hybrids and as a result can be expensive. It’s best to bring the bulbs indoors for the winter, and replant them again in the spring.
Is Canna Lily Toxic, Poisonous or Invasive?
Canna lilies are native to South America, but they’re not a very aggressive species despite having rhizomes. Because of this, they’re not considered to be invasive outside of their native range, but instead of simply referred to as “non-native.” This is a term that is used by ecologists to describe plants that, while not native to the area, don’t really prove to be much of a threat to natural ecosystems.
Nonetheless, be careful to not allow cannas to escape your garden or pond so as to preserve the ecological integrity of the surrounding area!
No literature or research could be found on the toxicity of cannas, and in fact all species and all parts of the plant are listed as being non-toxic to humans, horses, dogs, and cats. Therefore, it can be reasonably assumed that it’s safe for your fish and other animals if they happen to decide to munch on some.
Is Canna Lily Edible? Will Fish Eat it?
Some varieties of canna lily are edible. Cleopatra lily in particular isn’t toxic, but also is not considered to be palatable due to a waxy, somewhat bitter substance on their leaves that helps prevent herbivory. This is the reason why they are largely pest resistant, though some caterpillars and beetles may still feed on them a bit. It’s unlikely that your fish or other animals will try to nibble on these plants, but if they do they should be perfectly safe.
Where to Buy Canna Lily & Seeds? (UK & US)
Canna lilies can often be found at plant nurseries as well as home improvement stores that also have garden sections, as they’re beautiful and popular flowers. Cleopatra cannas, however, can be somewhat difficult to breed and may be harder to find. It’s more likely that you’ll find this particular variety via online plant and pond vendors.
Need to move canna lilies in June which are planted under tree not ideal spot.
Can I move them now around to a pond area?
Hi Carole,
Since this is their growing season, the cannas will likely be stressed by transplanting and might die. The best time to move them is in winter or early spring when they’re dormant.
Solutions for “leaf rollers” on cannas in the pond?
Hi David,
A spray product containing spinosad or Bacillus thuringiensis should work! Each one can be used once per week, so alternating with spinosad one week and Bacillus the next should take care of them! Depending on how many there are and how established they are, it may take several weeks to get rid of them – you can use these products about 6 times per season safely, but do take care to spray directly into the tubes the leaf rollers are in to prevent the spray from going where you don’t want it and make sure the leaf rollers are hit directly.
Also, at the end of the growing season, cut all foliage from your cannas and throw it out, as their could be tiny pupa hiding out that can overwinter until next season. This will help prevent the issue from recurring next year.
Do turtles eat cannas?
Hi Ellen,
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a positive answer for that! This will depend somewhat on the turtle species, and even the individual turtle. I used to have a red-eared slider, and while my friends’ sliders ate all of the plants in their aquarium, mine was incredibly picky with the exception of eating most of my anacharis. At the very least, canna lilies should not be toxic to them if any turtles do decide to munch on them.
I love my lilies. What do I do with the stalks after flowering? Do I cut them back? If so, how far??
Hi Vinny,
Thanks for reading! Canna lilies will still bloom whether you deadhead them or not. Some gardeners prefer to leave the flowers, some cut the entire stalk. We think the best strategy is more of a compromise: just cut off the dead flowers, leaving the stalk in place. Otherwise, the plant will have to grow entirely new stalks before being able to flower again.
I am make a garden pond in a metal container, I bought Dwaf water Canna. Do I put the plant in a different container then what it came in and what kind of soil should I use if I do need to put it in a different container. It is in a black little container
Is it ok to leave canna lilies on a pond over winter? Zone 7-8.
Hi Carolyn,
Sorry about the late reply! I’m not sure how helpful this will be to you now, but canna lilies are incredibly sensitive to frost and generally need to be dug up in the autumn in zones 8 and below. They might be fine if you get through the winter without significant frost.
Are all Cana varieties able to be planted in a pond or only specific ones?
I’ve had canna lillies in my koi pond waterfall for years. This year they are getting destroyed by insects. The leaves have large spots of dead areas and holes in them. I’ve never had to treat them before. Is there anything I can spray on the plants that would be safe for my koi (I have a lot of them!)? If so, how often can I apply without harming the fish.
I have had whitw canna lily in my fish pond for a number of years always had lovely lot of flowers but this year only had one, any advise why this as happened