A Guide to Growing Cannas as Annuals in Canadian Gardens
Canna lilies are loved for their lush, tropical appearance and vibrant blooms, making them a standout addition to gardens across Canada.
These striking plants are versatile, easy to manage, and bring a burst of colour and energy to any landscape.
In this blog, we’ll explore the many uses for Cannas as annuals, tips for creating the right environment, and how to help your canna lillies thrive throughout the growing season.
How to Use Canna Lilies as a Feature in Your Garden Design
Canna lilies offer immense value and versatility to gardens. Here are some ideas for highlighting Cannas in your gardening space, regardless of the size.
Highlight Cannas in Pots and Containers
Cannas thrive and grow easily in large planters, making them perfect for smaller growing spaces like patios, decks, or balconies.
Cannas are the perfect ‘thriller’ plants for container plantings, providing height and structure. They may be placed in the center of a container or at the back, if the container is only viewed from one angle.
Cannas Shine in Garden Borders
With their towering stems reaching up to 1.2 m (4 feet), broad leaves, and showy blooms, Cannas provide a dramatic flair and a striking backdrop for smaller plants. Even when without flowers, Canna leaves, available in hues of green, purple, bronze, or variegated, are impressive!
Cannas Make Impressive Mass Plantings
Plant Cannas in flowerbeds en masse for a dramatic tropical look that evokes faraway places—even in a Canadian yard.
Plant Cannas Near Pond Edges
Certain Canna varieties tolerate wet feet, making them ideal beside garden ponds or water features.
Be sure to check the variety tags or ask to establish that the Canna you are purchasing is the right one for a pond edge.
Include Cannas in Your Pollinator Garden
Beyond aesthetics, Cannas also attract pollinators, such as hummingbirds and butterflies, adding life and movement to your garden.
Related: 5+ Ways to Create A Thriving and Pollinator-Safe Garden
The Best Environment for Growing Cannas: Sunlight, Soil & Temperature Needs
One of the best ways to provide plants with the environment they will thrive in is to know where they originate from.
Cannas are native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world, such as Central and South America, and tropical areas of eastern and western Africa.
Their tropical heritage makes Cannas warm-weather lovers. Wait until the ambient temperatures are above +20° C (70° F) before placing containers outdoors. And hold back on planting Canna lilies outdoors until the soil has warmed up, usually in early to mid-June.
Cannas are also passionate about sunshine. To achieve robust growth and spectacular blooms for your cannas, position them where they’ll receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily.
Avoid planting Canna lilies in windy growing spaces. Wind will shred their broad leaves and, in extreme cases, will completely strip the leaves off their stems.
Canna lilies will grow in shadier areas, as they do under the tropical canopy, but these locations may result in fewer flowers and leggy growth.
Grow Cannas in rich, well-drained, and consistently moist soil. If you’re planting in containers, use a high-quality potting soil mix and ensure the containers have adequate drainage holes.
Related:
- The Complete Guide to Creating Show-Stopping Annual Flower Containers
- 10+ Amazing Annual and Perennial Flowers to Grow in Full Sun
Watering Tips to Keep Canna Lillies Flourishing In Your Garden
How Often Should You Water Canna Plants?
Cannas are thirsty plants, particularly during the hot summer months.
Check Canna lilies regularly for watering needs and water mature plants deeply and regularly, aiming to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged, as over-saturated soil can put rhizomes at risk of rot.
Mulching the soil at the base of Cannas helps retain moisture and suppress weeds—use shredded bark or leaf mulch.
I recommended incorporating mulch in both in-ground and container plantings.
Check Canna containers daily as pots dry out faster than garden beds, and adding a layer of mulch will decrease water needs by about 20%.
New to gardening with mulch? Learn more in How to Use Mulch in Planters and Hanging Baskets.
Fertilizing Tips to Keep Cannas Growing Vigorously
Canna lilies are hungry plants, also known as heavy feeders, that require regular, consistent fertilizer to reach their potential.
A weekly feeding schedule ensures your Cannas produce strong stems and vibrant flowers.
Start by incorporating compost or worm castings into the potting soil. Adding slow-release granular fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, at planting helps maintain nutrient levels, especially if they are grown in pots.
Fertilize weekly with a well-balanced liquid fertilizer (e.g., 20-20-20, 15-30-15, or Nature’s Source) to encourage vigorous growth and flowering until frost.
Avoid using fertilizers high in nitrogen. Nitrogen is the first number in the fertilizer formulation sequence. Nitrogen encourages green leafy growth, and excess nitrogen can produce lush leaves at the expense of flowers.
If your Cannas look lush and leafy but aren’t blooming, cut back on nitrogen and boost phosphorus (the middle number) instead, as phosphorus encourages flower development.
Related: How to Understand Fertilizer Labels
About Staking, Deadheading, Pest Control, and Storing Canna Lilies
Cannas really are fuss-free plants, but there are a few more details on specific care areas:
Deadheading Cannas
Canna flowerheads last a long time as individual flowers die back and are replaced by developing buds, but eventually the entire flowerhead will finish.
Initially, remove individual spent flowers to prevent seed development, encourage new blooms, and keep the plant tidy.
When the entire flowerhead of flowers has completed blooming, cut the stalk off at the base to encourage new stem growth from the rhizome, because old flower stems will not reflower.
Staking Cannas
Occasionally, tall varieties need support to prevent stem breakage.
I love to stake Cannas with large tomato cages, gently securing the stems with Velcro hook-and-loop ties or other soft ties. The leaves will eventually mask the metal tomato cage supports. Bamboo canes also work well and are easily hidden as they support Cannas.
Canna Pest Control
Fortunately, Canna lilies are bothered by few pests, but watch for the occasional slug, snail, or caterpillar. If you see any of these pests, hand-pick them off or use environmentally friendly controls where necessary.
Canna Winter Storage
Canna lilies are not winter-hardy in most Canadian growing zones. They can be grown as annuals outdoors and stored indoors over winter by saving their rhizomes. Looking to overwinter cannas? Check out our guide, “3 Ways to Overwinter Canna Lilies in Canada’s Cold Growing Zones” to learn more!
Include Cannas in Your Garden This Season!
Cannas are an excellent way to bring warmth, colour, and wildlife into your garden! By providing ample sunlight, rich soil, and consistent moisture, you can enjoy their striking foliage and blossoms from late spring through to the first frost.
Whether you’re looking to make a bold statement in your yard or simply to add a tropical flair to a patio, Cannas are a vibrant and rewarding choice year after year.
Ready to learn more about gardening for your growing zone? Check out our growing guides for annuals, register for a gardening workshop, or sign up today for our monthly newsletter!
More to Explore
- 3 Ways to Overwinter Canna Lilies in Canada’s Cold Growing Zones
- 5 Ways to Craft Water Efficient Planters
- How to Keep Hanging Baskets & Flower Containers Thriving all Season
- 10 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Growing Flower Containers
- How to Select the Ideal Geranium for Your Garden
© Sharon Wallish Murphy © Gardening with Sharon
