Plant rhizomes 12 to 18 inches apart, covering with two to three inches of soil. Place the long part of the rhizome horizontally in the ground with the eye up, if visible. Canna rhizomes do not have a top or bottom, so no worry of placing it upside down. In colder regions, cannas may be planted in pots and placed in greenhouse conditions six to eight weeks prior to planting. When all danger of frost is past, remove from pots and plant outside.

Cannas should be watered thoroughly once a week by slowly soaking the area around the roots. For optimum performance, add a general all purpose fertilizer (10-20-10 is fine) at planting time and once during the growing season. Cannas are not high users of nitrogen. It is not necessary to dead head the spent flowers and seed pods to induce new blooms, however, your flower bed will appear more striking without the old blooms.

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map will help you determine how to best care for your cannas during the winter months. In zones 7-10 cannas can be safely left in the ground during the winter. Zone 6 is a median climate for cannas. Cannas grown in zone 6 can be left in the ground during less severe winter seasons but always have the possibility of freezing during more severe winters. Cannas grown in zones 5 and colder must be dug and stored during the winter. Our FAQ page has recommendations and tips for successful winter storage.

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