Actual size and flowering may vary slightly based on season.
Canna Lily Tropicanna
Tropicanna is a canna grown as much for its leaves as its flowers. The big paddle leaves are striped burgundy, pink, yellow and orange, and bright orange flower spikes rise above them from early summer into fall.
It grows about 4 to 6 feet tall with flowers. Give it regular water and morning sun with afternoon shade, and cut it down after frost so fresh leaves come back in spring.
Best for: tropical beds, poolside plantings, large containers and bright foliage accents with morning sun.
The leaves are striped burgundy, pink, yellow and orange, so it adds color even between flower flushes. Plant it where the sun lights up the leaves in the morning.
It makes a bold focal point in a large container. Use a pot at least 18 inches across and water it more often than plants in the ground.
It suits pool and pond plantings with regular water. Set plants 18 to 24 inches apart for a full group.
Hot western sun scorches and tears the leaves. It needs regular water and rich soil to keep its color.
- Mass planting18 in apart
- Border row24 in apart
Water deeply 2 to 3 times 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, where the big leaves scorch and tear.
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 Tropicanna canna get?
It grows about 4 feet tall in leaf and up to 6 feet with flowers, and about 2 to 3 feet wide. Give it room behind shorter plants.
When does Tropicanna bloom?
Orange flower spikes open from early summer into fall. Keep it watered through summer for steady flowers.
Why are the leaves striped?
Tropicanna is grown for its striped leaves in burgundy, pink, yellow and orange. Give it morning sun so the colors show without scorching.
How often should I water Tropicanna canna?
Water deeply 2 to 3 times a week in spring and about every other day in summer heat. In winter, water every 10 to 14 days.
Does Tropicanna canna 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 Tropicanna for sale in Arizona, delivered to you
Tropicanna is the canna with striped, sunset-colored leaves. It adds a tropical accent to a watered bed or large pot in the Valley. This page covers size, sun, watering, frost, planting time and spacing.
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Tropicanna canna in Arizona
Tropicanna is a canna with striped burgundy, pink, yellow and orange leaves and orange flowers. It brings a tropical look to watered beds and pots.
Tropicanna size
It grows about 4 feet tall in leaf and up to 6 feet in flower, and 2 to 3 feet wide.
Best spot for Tropicanna in Phoenix
Give it morning sun and afternoon shade. Keep it off west-facing spots, where the leaves scorch.
Watering Tropicanna canna
Water deeply 2 to 3 times a week in spring, about every other day in summer and every 10 to 14 days in winter.
Tropicanna after frost
Frost blackens the leaves, but the roots survive. Cut the stalks down to a few inches, and new leaves return in spring.
Tropicanna in a pot
Use a container at least 18 inches across and water it more often than plants in the ground.
We deliver across the Valley, from Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa out to San Tan Valley, Maricopa and Casa Grande, and up to Prescott, Sedona, Payson and Globe. See delivery areas and rates.