Screaming out for attention with its large, vivid orange flowers and crumpled silk appearance, that mingle with the spectacular, green foliage with yellow-striped veins, award-winning Canna ‘Pretoria’ (syn. Canna ‘Bengal Tiger’ or Canna striata) brings a sensational tropical accent in the garden. Blooming from mid-summer to fall, it adds a cheerful and colorful exclamation to your outdoor spaces.
- Recipient of the prestigious Award of Garden Merit of the Royal Horticultural Society.
- Grows up to 4-6 ft. tall (120-180 cm) and 1-3 ft. wide (30-90 cm). The bigger the tuber, the more chance it will produce larger plants and more spectacular flowers.
- Performs best in full sun in organically rich, moist, and well-drained soils. Can be grown in up to 6 in. of water (15 cm) during the summer. If you plan to use it as a water plant, gradually introduce it to aquatic life.
- Canna Lilies look at their best when massed along walls or hedges or in garden beds where they proudly stand out. Spectacular on a patio, they are well suited to container growing.
- Very sensitive to frost, this Canna Lily is a tender perennial that is only hardy to zones 8-11. Therefore, in cooler areas, its bulb will have to be dug up before the first frost and stored indoors over the winter in a dry place before being replanted in spring.
- Cannas are largely free of pests but in the USA, special care has to be provided to protect their leaves from the damage eventually caused by the Canna Leaf Roller. Keep an eye out for Japanese beetles, caterpillars, slugs, and snails which may chew on the foliage.
- Deadhead Cannas throughout the growing season to keep them blooming for as long as possible.