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Cannas for Ponds and Water Features

Updated: 5 days ago

Cannas are tall and impressive plants that command attention! Cannas are loaded with luscious long, tapered foliage that gives your pond a tropical look. Leaves may be striped or solid colored in hues of green or burgundy. The flowers appear on tall spikes above the foliage in summer through fall. They range in color from creamy yellow to orange, pink to red and bi-color blossoms resembling either gladiolas with large over-lapping petals or plumeria-types with more delicate, narrow petals.


Genus name comes from the Greek word kanna meaning reed.


There are two kinds of Cannas- True Water and Water-Tolerant. True Water Cannas grow well in wet areas in the garden or in ponds with water over their crowns. The other type of Canna are water-tolerant terrestrial plants that can adapt to shallow pond areas (Bengal Tiger, Intrigue) as well as wet sites in the garden.

True water Cannas are species Canna like C. glauca that has blue green foliage and the Florida Canna C. flaccida and others that have been heavily studied for its medicinal uses C. indica. The Longwood Canna varieties are hybrids of C. flaccida and have been very popular for decades used as reliable hybrid cannas for ponds.

Aquatic cannas that are tolerant of shallow water are often crosses between Canna glauca and other species. While they can grow in moist soil, they are particularly well-suited for water features. 

Canna Varieties

If you get addicted to Cannas, there is no need to worry, there are plenty of varieties to choose from that can grow in your ponds, bogs and container water gardens! Here are some popular types that vary in height from 2-3 feet, 4-6 and 6’ or taller.

Cannas with Orange Flowers: ‘African Sunset’, ‘Bengal Tiger’, ‘Emerald Sunset’, ‘Napoleon’, ‘Orange Sherbert’, ‘Tony’

Cannas with Bicolor Flowers: ‘Chiquita Punch’ orange/yellow, ‘Flirtini’ peach with red, ‘Orange Punch’ orange/yellow, Pacific Beauty- orange/yellow, Paton- yellow/orange

Cannas with Red Flowers: Australia, ‘Black Knight’ , ‘Endeavor’

Cannas with Pink Flowers: ‘Compact Pink’, Erebus, ‘Flirtini’ , ‘Intrigue’ peach, Panache- apricot, ‘Peach Delight’ peach, Pink Sunburst

Cannas with Yellow Flowers: ‘Flaccida’ (Florida canna), ‘Davia’, ‘Ra’, Paton- yellow/orange

Common Canna Varieities for Ponds

Canna ‘African Sunset’ Neon orange blooms with pink and red variegated leaves Z8 6-7’ tall

Canna 'Australia'- Red blooms on tall plant with dark red, waxy narrow leaves Z8 . 4-6’ tall

Canna ‘Australia Compact’- very dwarf. Waxy dark red-leaved canna. Used only for its striking foliage, as it does not bloom--this keeps foliage nice longer. Z7 2-3’ tall

Canna ‘Bengal Tiger’-Neon orange blooms.,bold yellow and cream variegated leaves Z7b 4-6’ tall - One of favorites!

Canna ‘Black Knight’- Red blooms with burgundy foliage grows 5-6' tall Z8

Canna ‘Chiquita Punch’ (dwf Orange Punch) Very dwarf canna w/orange pendant blooms yellow throat Z8 18-24” tall

Canna ‘Compact Pink’ Full pink bloom on a compact plant w/ green leaves Z8 2-3’ tall

Canna ‘Emerald Sunset’ – Wide fluorescent orange blooms. Grows 5-6' tall Z8

Canna flaccida (Florida canna) - Clear yellow blooms. Grows 5-6' tall Z8

Canna ‘Flirtini’ - Dark pink blooms w/purplish leaves Z7 3-4’ tall

Canna ‘Freckle Face’– Large orange-peach blooms with red flecks. Bright green leaves Z 7-8, 2-3’ tall

Canna glauca ‘Davia’ Pale yellow blooms with grayish green foliage. Soft and pretty! Z8, 4-5’ tall

Canna ‘Intrigue’ – Peach colored flowers, w/ maroon foliage. Grows 5-6' tall Z8

Canna longwood ‘Endeavor’ – Red flowers. Grows 4-6' tall Z8

Canna longwood 'Erebus' - Pink flowers , prefers shallow water. Grows 4-6'tall Z8

Canna longwood 'Ra' - Yellow flowers, prefers shallow water. Grows 4-6' tall Z8

Canna ‘Napoleon’ Unusual orangey pink Flowers . Great bloomer. Grows 3-4' tall Z8

Canna ‘Orange Punch’ – Tremendous, bright orange canna with yellow throat Z8, 3-4’ tall

Canna ‘Orange Sherbert’ – Varying shades of orange in the bloom cluster. Grows to 4; Z8

Canna 'Pacific Beauty' - Yellow-orange bloom w/dark blue-bronze foliage Z8, 4-6’ tall

Canna 'Panache' - Long, narrow leaves of blue green. Pretty apricot flower. Grows 5-7&; Z8

Canna 'Paton' – Yellow flowers with orange center Z8 2-3’ tall

Canna ‘Peach Delight’ - Peach blooms on true water canna, hyridized form Z7 3-5’tall

Canna 'Pink Sunburst' - Solid pink blooms, variegated foliage w/ distinct pink blush Z8 2.5-3.5’tall

Canna ‘Tony’- Flashy orange flowers. Dark green leaves w/ heavy burgundy markings Z6 4-6’ tall


Caring for Cannas

Plant Cannas in up to 6-10” of water, make sure there are several inches of water over the crown especially during winter months. Space them 1.5-2’ or more if planted directly into the pond shelf to allow them room to spread. They can also be planted in pots with holes with aquatic soil &/or rocks. They like full sun to part shade and bloom mid-late summer through fall. Dwarf varieties can be planted a bit shallower in 3”-5” below the water surface as they are shorter and don’t require as much anchoring stability as the larger varieties do.

They may also need some fertilizer for optimal blooming during the growing season if you do not have fish (fish waste acts as a fertilizer for plants). Only use fertilizers that is specifically for pond plants, they usually come in a tablet form that can be inserted into the root zone area. Repot or divide cannas when needed or every 2-3 years (more or less, depending upon how fast it grows) during the growing season or around May or June. Avoid dividing your canna too late in the season as it will need a few weeks in warmer water for the roots to callus.

Cannas are typically winter hardy in Zones 7-10, they can be lifted and stored indoors in colder areas. In the late fall after it is done for the season, cut your Canna down to a few inches above the water surface. Avoid cutting it below the water surface as it can cause it to drown, then to rot.

Stop by and visit us at Nature Perfect Pond & Supply Store where we can help guide you with care and choosing the varieties that would do best for your water feature. We can also special-order cannas just for you! Email me at Kerri.B@natureperfect.net and I can order them for you

(plants may be subject to availability) or ask me another type of plant or fish question. Please note: plants may be subject to availability with our suppliers.

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