Canna Tropicanna® Black Bulb

Canna Tropicanna® Black emerges as a gardener's delight with the arrival of spring, promising an opulent display by summer. This striking canna lily is renowned for its sumptuous, variegated purple-black leaves, which serve as a dramatic backdrop for the dazzling scarlet-orange flowers that sit atop its long, sturdy stems. From midsummer through fall, Tropicanna Black Canna produces a profusion of blooms that act as magnets for butterflies and hummingbirds, adding life and color to any garden space.

This exotic, herbaceous perennial is characterized by a dense, upright, and clumping growth habit, flourishing rapidly in the right conditions. A lover of heat and humidity, the Canna Tropicanna Black blends seamlessly with other annuals and perennials that echo its tropical flair. It is particularly suited to moist environments and looks spectacular when planted around water features or in boggy areas. Whether grouped or massed, this Tropicanna black canna lily creates an impressive visual impact in beds and borders, serving as a dynamic backdrop for shorter plants. In milder climates, it can be used as a spectacular natural screen and is also an ideal candidate for large container plantings, where it takes center stage in any thriller-filler-spiller arrangement.

Canna Tropicanna Black is not only visually stunning but also remarkably low-maintenance. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, preferring organically rich, moist, well-drained soils, but is adaptable to a variety of soil conditions, including those that are poorly drained. Regular watering and feeding with compost or organic fertilizer are key to its vigorous growth. Deadheading the entire stalk after flowering encourages further blooming and maintains its elegant appearance. Moreover, this plant is known for its disease resistance, adding to its appeal as a garden favorite.

For gardeners in Zones 7-11, Tropicanna Black Canna can be easily overwintered by cutting it back to soil level and leaving it in the ground or in pots. In colder regions (Zones 3-6), the plant should be cut to about 4 inches after the first frost, with the rhizome clump dug up, dried, and stored in a cool, dry place until spring. When the threat of frost has passed and soil temperatures reach at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit, divide and replant the rhizomes to enjoy another season of its breathtaking beauty.

Stunning canna has tropical blooms and showy foliage, while they're not true lilies, they grow from rhizomes and so are easy to plant, divide, and take up if you're in a cooler hardiness zone. Find the details for growing cannas in our Canna Care Guide.