Canna Tropicanna® Black Bulb

Plant Canna Tropicanna® Black in spring, and in summer, this canna lily produces masses of broad, fleshy, variegated purple-black leaves topped with distinctive scarlet-orange flowers. Borne atop long, strong, sturdy stems the prolific flower spikes bloom from midsummer to fall, beckoning to butterflies and hummingbirds.

An exotic herbaceous tender perennial, Canna Tropicanna® Black has a dense, upright, clumping habit and a fast growth rate. Heat- and humidity-loving, cannas mingle well with other annuals and perennials, especially those that share the canna lily's tropical temperament. They grow well in boggy areas and around water features. Grouped or massed, they create a theatrical backdrop for shorter plants in beds and borders, but they also make spectacular screens in mild climates and can even be grown in a large container. It is an especially nice thriller (focal point) in a thriller-filler-spiller container garden.

A tough, low-maintenance plant, Canna Tropicanna® Black prefers full sun and organically rich, moist, well-drained soil; but it tolerates partial shade and most soils, including poorly drained soils. Cannas tend to be thirsty and hungry, so keep the plant well-watered and well-fed with plenty of compost or organic fertilizer. Deadheading the entire stalk encourages blooming. The plant is disease resistant.

In regions with mild winters (Zones 7-11), the plant can be cut back to soil level and left in the ground or in pots over winter. In regions with severe winters (Zones 3-6), the plant can be cut to about 4 inches after the first frost in late autumn, the rhizome clump dug up, dried a few days, and stored in a cool, dry place. In spring, divide the rhizome shoots, and replant after the threat of frost has passed when soil temperature is a minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit.