Canna Cannova is a popular garden plant known for its vibrant flowers and lush, tropical foliage, adding an exotic touch to gardens throughout the growing season. Gardeners often wonder if it will return each year, prompting questions about its perennial nature. This article clarifies Canna Cannova’s perennial status and offers guidance on its care.
Understanding Perennial Plants
A perennial plant is defined as one that lives for more than two years, returning to grow and bloom each spring. Unlike annuals, which complete their life cycle within a single year, perennials establish root systems that allow them to survive dormant periods. A plant’s ability to endure winter outdoors in a specific region is determined by the USDA Plant Hardiness Zones. This system categorizes geographic areas based on their average annual extreme minimum winter temperatures.
The hardiness zone map helps gardeners select plants likely to survive winter in their location. For a plant to be considered a perennial, its root system must withstand the typical lowest temperatures there. Plants are categorized by the lowest hardiness zone they can reliably survive, which predicts their return year after year.
Canna Cannova’s Perennial Status
Canna Cannova is classified as a tender perennial, meaning its return depends on local climate and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. In warmer regions, specifically USDA Zones 8 through 11, Canna Cannova can be treated as a perennial. In these zones, the plant’s underground rhizomes can survive mild winter temperatures outdoors, re-emerging in spring.
Conversely, in colder climates, USDA Zones 7 and below, Canna Cannova is not reliably winter-hardy. Gardeners in these areas often grow Canna Cannova as an annual, enjoying its seasonal display before the first hard frost. To ensure its return in colder zones, winter protection or storage methods for its rhizomes are necessary.
Winter Care for Canna Cannova
For gardeners in colder zones who wish to see their Canna Cannova return, digging up and storing the rhizomes is an effective method. This process should begin after the first light frost blackens the foliage but before the ground freezes solid. Frost-touched foliage ensures the plant stores maximum energy in its rhizomes for dormancy.
Once foliage withers, cut stems back to about 4 to 6 inches above the soil line. Carefully lift the entire clump of rhizomes from the ground using a digging fork, avoiding damage. Gently shake off loose soil, then rinse off remaining dirt. Air dry the rhizomes for several days in a warm, well-ventilated area until dry to the touch.
After drying, store the rhizomes in a cool, dark, and dry location between 40°F and 50°F. Store them in peat moss, perlite, or sawdust to absorb excess moisture and prevent rot. Place rhizomes in a breathable container, such as a cardboard box or mesh bag, ensuring they don’t touch to minimize mold or disease spread. Periodically check stored rhizomes throughout winter, discarding any showing signs of rot or shriveling.
In mild Zone 7 or warmer zones where winter temperatures rarely dip below freezing, Canna Cannova rhizomes can be left in the ground. Applying a thick layer of mulch, 6 to 8 inches deep, over the planting area provides insulation and protects rhizomes from temperature fluctuations. While this offers some protection, digging and storing provides more reliable survival in borderline climates.
Ensuring Canna Cannova Returns
Bringing Canna Cannova back in spring requires careful timing and preparation. Four to six weeks before the last expected frost, bring stored rhizomes out of dormancy. Inspect them, removing any soft or diseased parts.
For a head start, rhizomes can be potted indoors in a light, well-draining potting mix. Place them in a sunny location or under grow lights, maintaining consistent soil moisture. This encourages early sprouting and root development. Once frost danger passes and soil temperatures warm to at least 60°F, pre-sprouted plants or dormant rhizomes can be planted directly into the garden.
Plant Canna Cannova in a location that receives full sun, six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily, and in organically rich, moist, well-drained soil. Consistent watering and regular feeding contribute to a robust, healthy plant. These optimal conditions support the plant’s vigor, preparing it for another successful growth cycle and potential overwintering.