Tropicanna® 'Black' and 'Gold'
These new exotic cannas display new and totally unique color combinations. Tropicanna® ‘Black’ features magnificent shades of purple blended with black. Tropicanna® ‘Gold’ features a bold striping of green and gold throughout each leaf.
You may be wondering – what is the proper spelling of this canna? The plant has come to be referred to more frequently as ‘Tropicana’, with one ‘n’, although the original, and technically correct spelling, is ‘Tropicanna®’. In fact, the name ‘Tropicanna®’ is a registered trademark of Anthony Tesselaar International, where this canna variety was originally patented.
The needs of the Canna ‘Tropicana’ are really not much different from those of other cannas. Here are some important tips to consider.
Spacing
The cannas should be planted about 18 inches apart in garden beds. If growing in containers, they can be planted closer together, as they will provide more of an architectural “cluster”. Ideally, the container size should be at least 15″ in diameter to allow the plants to reach their full size potential by the end of the growing season.
Sun
Canna ‘Tropicana’ performs best in full sun – at least 6 hours a day, but can also be grown in light sun or partial shade. If growing indoors, the canna needs about 4 hours of sun per day minimum, and grows best if taken outside during the summer, where it can get more direct sunlight and heat.
Soil and Watering
Canna ‘Tropicana’ can grow in a wide range of soils, but does best in fertile soil. It is more tolerant than most plants to poorly-draining soils. To look its best, the Tropicana canna needs frequent watering during its active growing season.
Fertilizers
In spring, give the canna a time release flowering plant fertilizer with a high potassium value to encourage flower production. Avoid a fertilizer too high in nitrogen – it can produce a canna that is excessively tall and elongated.
Winter Care
Canna ‘Tropicana’ can be stored indoors in Zone 6 or colder climates, and left in the ground in Zone 7 or warmer climates. Click here for more overwintering information.
Protecting Canna ‘Tropicana’ for the winter is fairly simple. If you live in Zone 6 or a colder climate, you will need to dig your canna ‘Tropicana’ bulbs out of the ground each fall and store them for the winter. Most people do this shortly after the first hard frost, when the foliage dies back, but before the ground freezes solid.
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Tags: canna, overwintering, tropicana, winter, zone 6, zone 7
Canna (a.k.a. Canna lily, although not a true lily) is a genus of approximately twenty species of flowering plants. The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, including gingers, bananas, heliconias, marantas, and strelitzias. The name Canna originates from the Celtic word for a cane or reed.
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Tags: cannas
