• Canna have attractive foliage and flowers.orange canna lily blossom image by Jack Prichett from Fotolia.com
  
  Tropical cannas produce large, glossy foliage and brightly-colored blossoms atop tall flower spikes. Flower color ranges from red and pink, to yellow and orange. As tender perennials, cannas can only be grown year-round in tropical and subtropical areas. In colder areas, the roots are dug up and stored indoors over winter, and then the canna is replanted in spring.
  
  

Timing

• Cannas tolerate no frost, so you cannot plant them outdoors until all spring frost danger is past. To avoid any late season frosts, plant a week or two after the expected last frost date in your area. In subtropical areas, plant cannas any time from spring to summer.
  
  

Soil and Location

• Plant cannas in beds that receive full sun, they can tolerate afternoon shade, if necessary. Beds must be well-drained, as canna roots rot in soggy, wet soils. Working compost into the bed before planting adds both nutrients and drainage to less suitable areas, and is beneficial in beds with good quality soil.
  
  

Depth and Spacing

• Cannas grow from a root system called a rhizome. The rhizome has buds, or growing eyes, along one side. Stems and foliage grow from these buds. The buds must be no more than 4 inches beneath the soil surface, as any deeper and the plant leafs out poorly. Canna plants reach diameters of 1 to 4 feet, depending on the variety, so must be spaced accordingly to prevent crowding.
  
  

Indoors

• Starting the canna roots indoors allows the plants to reach maturity more quickly, once set outside. This provides a distinct benefit in colder climates with shorter summers. Plant the rhizomes in pots the same as you plant them in the garden, and then place them in a sunny windowsill. Once the weather warms up, transplant the young plants to a permanent bed.