Canna in bloom

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Guess what's blooming in my garden? My 'Tropicana' canna! It's not as tall as I usually see cannas getting, but I guess that because I started this one from a bulb (or is it a corm? a rhizome? my botanical terms fail me at this point in the evening). In the past, most cannas that I've had in my yard have come as transplants, already nice and tall in their one-gallon pots. My other cannas are doing well with putting out foliage, but none of them have started flowering yet.

EDIT: Apparently this is not a 'Tropicana' variety, but I don't know what it is.

7 comments:

Michael said...

For a basic topiary design to add to your formal garden, try using techniques to coax smooth curves in your hedges, helping the shape of your garden to flow. Or, if you still have something that's got a lot of right angles and corners, start growing shapes at the corners to add decoration; think of the ornaments you see at the corners on fancy staircases and molding in structural Garden design.
By incorporating topiary into your formal garden design, you can take basic lines and create art, all adding up to a good-looking, green space in your home.
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1) The Bookstore - there are books on every topic, and they are typically more complete than the internet

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Jen said...

Uh, Michael? What post were you reading?

Anyway . . .

I can't believe you grew that from . . . whatever (corm, rhizhome, etc.)! That always impresses me - the ability to bring something from nothing. It's beautiful. I will be looking to you for advice with the cannas at my new house.

Wicked Gardener said...

That's a pretty canna. My 'Tropicana' cannas (I have the red ones) tend to the smaller side too, but that is fine since they they are so showy I like them up front. What other varieties do you have? I'm looking for a nice big one.

Kim Taylor Kruse said...

Oops! I misidentified this. It isn't 'Tropicana' but I don't know what it is.

Wicked Gardener said...

Could it be Tropicanna 'Gold'? It looks a bit like that one.

Kim Taylor Kruse said...

@wickedgardener: Perhaps. I found a post on Dave's Garden that said this...

"BEWARE of some sellers promoting 'Tropicana' cannas. (Notice the different spelling and it is a totally different variety.) I have seen them at Home Depot and they are not 'Tropicanna'. There is also a variety of 'Tropicanna' that is now called a 'Gold'. It is more like a 'Bengal Tiger' and not nearly as colorful as the original. Both of these varieties were developed by Anthony Tesselaar (visit their website). When buying, if it doesn't say Tesselaar, it's an illegal division from the original. There are a lot of bogus ones on eBay."

I did buy my bulbs at Home Depot, so that could explain why I thought they had been labeled 'Tropicana'.

Wicked Gardener said...

Illegal division?!?!? I'm in SO much trouble.