From Rhizomes to Blooms: How to Start and Grow Cannas For Your Garden
If you’re searching for a bold, tropical touch for your Canadian garden, look no further than Canna lilies.
These dazzling plants, celebrated for their lush foliage and flamboyant flowers, bring an unmistakable exotic flair to any outdoor space. As you start planning what to plant in your garden this year, this blog will walk you through everything you need to know about planting and nurturing Canna rhizomes.
What is a Rhizome? Understanding Cannas from the Ground Up
Before we dig in, let’s start with the basics—what is a rhizome? A rhizome is an underground stem that grows horizontally, sending out roots and shoots from its nodes. Unlike bulbs, which store nutrients for a single winter, rhizomes are robust, multi-purpose structures that help the plant survive adverse conditions and spread over time.
Cannas, much like irises and ginger, grow from rhizomes, making them exceptionally resilient and easy to propagate. When you purchase Canna rhizomes, you’re essentially buying the plant’s lifeline, packed with stored energy and ready to burst into life.
These chunky, knobby sections might look unremarkable at first glance, but given the right care, they’ll transform into a lush display of colour and texture by midsummer.
Starting Cannas from Rhizomes
Starting Cannas from rhizomes is simple, and to get a jump start on the growing season, plant Canna rhizomes in March or April. Once established, Cannas are incredibly popular and successful in containers; they also grow well in raised beds and in the ground. The ideal time to plant Cannas in the ground is after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed, typically in late May or early June in most Canadian regions.
How to Divide Canna Rhizomes
Before you plant your Canna rhizomes, this is a perfect time to divide any large clumps to multiply your collection.
Simply clean off the soil or peat moss from the stored rhizome and clip with a clean pair of garden sheers being sure to include at least one eye, this is area from which the stalks sprout.
How to plant Canna Rhizomes
1. Choose Healthy Rhizomes:
Select firm, plump rhizomes with an intact skin covering the structure. Wondering what that may feel like? Think ‘potato’.
Also, look for visible buds or ‘eyes’, each rhizome should have at least one.
Avoid planting any rhizomes that feel mushy or show signs of rot because these rhizomes will not grow.
2. Choose the Right Size Pot for the Canna Rhizome:
Find a pot that will accommodate the rhizome with a bit of spare space to get it going initially.
Even though the Canna will require transplanting as it expands, the advantages of growing in a smaller pot are that less soil warms up faster, resulting in quicker sprouting, and smaller pots reduce the physical space required for growing.
See Also: Eight Tips for Transplanting Plants in Your Garden
3. Prepare the Soil:
Cannas thrive in rich, well-draining soil. Before planting, moisten the soil, which will supply moisture to the root immediately.
How much to fill the bottom of the pot depends on how far the rhizome extends below the crown and the depth of the pot.
The rhizome crown is the area from which the stems and roots emerge. The underground rhizome should be planted about 2.5-5.0 cm (1-1.5 inches) below the soil line.
Fill the bottom of the pot with loose soil, avoiding compacting or pressing it (which would eliminate vital air spaces for root metabolism and drainage), and place the rhizome in the lower portion of the pot.
The depth of the soil may range from 4-15 cm (1.5-6.0 inches), but again, this depends on the rhizome and pot size.
4. Planting the Rhizome:
Place the rhizome horizontally on top of the soil with the eyes facing up or laterally. Some canna rhizomes have stem pieces, like the one above, which simplify orientation.
Bury the entire rhizome and cover with about 5-7.5 cm (1-1.5 inches) of soil, being careful not to pack the soil.
Water the newly planted rhizome lightly, but stop watering before water drips from the pot to avoid oversaturating the rhizome and risking rot. A healthy canna rhizome contains enough moisture and nutrients to get the initial growth started.
5. Watering the Newly Planted Rhizome:
Place the newly planted Canna in a sunny window or in a place that has plenty of ambient light.
Keep the soil lightly moist until sprouts appear, then water to keep it evenly saturated, but not soaking.
There should be new growth from your canna rhizome within 2-3 weeks.
Grow Bold with Cannas This Season
Whether planted as a bold specimen or used to create a lush border, Cannas embody the JoY of gardening. The canna lily’s ability to thrive in Canadian summers, paired with their ease of care and dazzling impact, makes them a top choice for both new and seasoned gardeners. With a bit of attention to proper storage and planting, Cannas will reward you year after year.
Ready to try them in your own space? Start with a few rhizomes this spring and see how quickly they transform your beds and containers.
For more planting tips and seasonal advice, to easy-to-follow guides and gardening workshops, explore more with Gardening with Sharon and keep growing a garden you love.
More to Explore
- 3 Ways to Overwinter Canna Lilies in Canada’s Cold Growing Zones
- Planter Box Design Strategies
- 6+ Front Door Planter Ideas to Make Your Entrance Shine
- Jump-Start Your Dahlia Season: Tips for Planting Dahlia Tubers in Zone 3-4 Gardens
- How to Keep Hanging Baskets & Flower Containers Thriving all Season
- 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Flower Containers
© Sharon Wallish Murphy © Gardening with Sharon
