Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Canna Lily
Canna lily brings a tropical look to a watered bed, with large paddle-shaped leaves and tall spikes of bold flowers. In the Valley it blooms mostly in spring, early summer and fall, and it grows fast from underground rhizomes.
It needs regular water and plenty of sun, but not the hot afternoon sun of a west side. Frost burns the leaves, and the roots come back in spring after you cut the stalks down.
Best for: tropical-style beds, borders, poolside and pond plantings, and large containers with morning sun.
Plant cannas in a group for a tropical look, with big paddle leaves and tall flower spikes. Set them 18 to 24 inches apart in a bed with regular water.
Cannas are a classic pond and poolside plant. Pick a spot with morning sun and afternoon shade, and keep the soil moist.
Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees visit the flowers. Snip off spent stalks to keep new spikes coming.
Hot western sun scorches and tears the big leaves. It needs regular water and does poorly in very alkaline native soil without compost.
- Mass planting18 in apart
- Border row24 in apart
Water deeply about once or twice a week in spring and about every other day in summer heat. In winter, water every 10 to 14 days. Cannas need regular water to look good.
Give it full morning sun and shade from the hot afternoon sun. Keep it off west-facing spots.
Snip off spent flower stalks to keep new ones coming. After frost blackens the leaves, cut the stalks down to a few inches above the ground.
Drainage test first. Dig the hole and fill it with water. If water is still sitting in the hole a day later, you likely hit caliche, clay or hard soil, so fix the drainage before planting. If it drains very fast, the soil is sandy. Standing water around roots is a common reason new plants fail.
Weed cloth. Cut it away from the planting hole and where the roots will spread. Remove any plastic sheeting completely, since it keeps water and air out of the soil.
Rock or decomposed granite with no soil underneath. Bring in soil close in texture to your native soil, mix it with the soil below, and build up enough depth for roots before planting.
If you can break through. Use a breaker bar, pick, or jackhammer. Dig through the caliche and break out the solid chunks. Backfill with the soil you dug out, with no compost or manure in the hole. Confirm drainage before planting.
If you cannot break through. Dig narrow holes through the hard layer beside the root ball, not under it, and refill them with the same soil, not gravel. If it still will not drain, plant on a low mound of the same soil.
Root ball. Check the outside edges for any roots circling around. Loosen or cut those so they grow outward. Do not break up the center of the root ball.
Depth. The top of the root ball should sit at or just slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting too deep can lead to rot and kill the plant.
Drip emitters. At planting, put the emitters on the root ball, on different sides of the plant. After about 2 months, move them to the outer edge of the root ball. Over the first year, add emitters farther out toward the edge of the branches as roots grow. Once a plant is rooted, never water only at the trunk.
How big does canna lily get?
Most garden cannas grow 5 to 10 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet wide, depending on the variety. Plant them where the tall stalks will not block a view.
When does canna lily bloom in Phoenix?
It blooms mostly in spring and early summer, and again in fall. Keep it watered through summer so it is ready for the fall flowers.
How often should I water canna lily?
Water deeply about once or twice a week in spring and about every other day in summer heat. In winter, water every 10 to 14 days.
Does canna lily need full sun in Phoenix?
It wants plenty of sun, but not the hot afternoon sun on a west side. Give it morning sun with afternoon shade for the best-looking leaves.
What do I do after a frost?
Frost blackens the leaves, but the roots survive underground. Cut the stalks down to a few inches above the ground, and new shoots come up in spring.
When should I plant cannas?
Late February or March is best, once the soil warms and hard frost is past. Fall planting in October or November also works.
How far apart should I plant cannas?
Plant them about 18 to 24 inches apart. Use 18 inches for a full mass planting.
Do cannas attract hummingbirds?
Yes. Hummingbirds, butterflies and bees visit the flowers. Snip off spent stalks to keep new flowers coming.
Can I grow cannas in a pot?
Yes. Use a container at least 18 inches across for each plant, and water it more often than plants in the ground.
Do cannas spread?
Yes. They spread by underground rhizomes into bigger clumps over time. Dig and divide crowded clumps in fall or early spring.
Canna Lily for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Canna lily is a fast, tropical-looking plant for beds that get regular water. It handles Valley heat with the right spot and comes back from its roots after frost. This page covers sun, watering, frost, planting time and spacing.
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Canna lily in the Valley
Canna lily adds big tropical leaves and bold flower spikes to a watered bed. It grows fast from rhizomes and returns after frost.
Best spot for canna lily in Phoenix
Give it morning sun and afternoon shade, and keep it off west-facing spots where the leaves scorch.
Watering canna lily
Water deeply 2 to 3 times a week in spring, about every other day in summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter.
Canna lily after frost
Frost blackens the leaves, but the roots survive. Cut the stalks down to a few inches, and new growth returns in spring.
When to plant canna lily
Late February or March is best. October and November plantings also work.
How far apart to plant cannas
Plant them 18 to 24 inches apart, closer for a full mass planting.
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