Wildflower/Perennial
Canna lily
Canna x generalis · Cannaceae
Also called: Canna, Indian shot, Garden canna
Canna lily (Canna x generalis) is a high-water wildflower/perennial well suited to Tucson and the low desert.
Canna lily at a glance
- Water use
- High (established)
- Sun
- Full sun for best bloom and color; in Tucson's harshest summer sun, light afternoon/filtered shade reduces leaf scorch and tip burn. Foliage-color cultivars hold up better with some afternoon protection.
- Mature size
- Typically 3-6 ft. tall (dwarf cultivars 2-3 ft., tall types to 6-8 ft.) and 1.5-3 ft. wide, spreading by rhizomes into clumps.
- Growth rate
- Fast in warm weather; spreads readily by rhizomes.
- Bloom
- Red, orange, yellow, pink, salmon, cream, and bicolors; foliage may be green, bronze, burgundy, or variegated., Late spring through fall in Tucson (roughly April-October), with heaviest bloom in warm months.
- Cold hardiness
- Top growth is frost-tender (damaged below ~32°F), but rhizomes are hardy in Tucson (USDA 9a-9b) and reliably resprout in spring; mulch crowns for added protection in hard freezes.
- Soil
- Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil; amend the lean desert/caliche soils generously with compost and organic matter. Tolerates wet sites and pond margins.
- Native range
- Garden hybrid derived from tropical and subtropical American Canna species (Central/South America); not native to the desert.
- Best used as
- Tropical-look accent and focal points, Pool and water-feature plantings, Massed borders and color beds, Containers, Hummingbird gardens, Screening with bold foliage
- Wildlife
- Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies; bold foliage adds lush, tropical structure. Watch for canna leaf-roller and spider mites in the dry heat.
- Toxicity
- Generally considered non-toxic / low toxicity to humans and pets (not on major pet-poison lists); rhizomes are even edible in some species. A safe choice around children and animals.
How to grow Canna lily in Tucson & the low desert
Watering
High water needs - one of the thirstier plants in a desert landscape. Keep soil consistently moist; in Tucson summers water deeply 2-3 times per week (more in containers), reducing as weather cools. Mulch heavily to conserve moisture. Cut back significantly during winter dormancy.
Fertilizer & nutrients
Heavy feeder. Apply a balanced fertilizer (or one slightly higher in phosphorus/potassium) monthly through the spring-fall growing season; supplement with chelated iron in the alkaline desert soil if leaves yellow (iron chlorosis is common in Tucson).
Pruning & care
Deadhead spent flower stalks to encourage rebloom. Cut frost-damaged stalks to the ground after winter freezes; divide crowded rhizomes every 2-3 years in late winter/early spring. Remove tattered, sunburned, or pest-damaged leaves.
Notes
Provides a tropical, lush look but is a high-water plant - best sited in a small oasis or mini-oasis zone near the house, on drip irrigation, not in low-water desert beds. Iron chlorosis and leaf scorch/spider mites are the main Tucson challenges; afternoon shade, mulch, and chelated iron keep it looking its best.
Sources: University of Arizona / Pima County Cooperative Extension; AMWUA / Water Use It Wisely (wateruseitwisely.com); Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (desertmuseum.org)