Canna lilies bring a bold, tropical appearance to the summer garden, offering vibrant color and lush foliage. After the flowers fade, a round, distinctive structure—the canna lily seed pod—forms where the bloom once was. Gardeners must choose whether to remove the pod to encourage more flowers or leave it to save seeds for future plants. Understanding these pods is key to informed garden maintenance.
Identifying Canna Lily Seed Pods
Canna lily seed pods are bumpy, rounded capsules located directly beneath the spent flower. They start green and firm, sometimes described as having a spiky or warty texture, though they are not sharp to the touch. These reproductive structures house the seeds.
As the seeds mature, the pods transition from green to a darker brown or black shade. A mature pod becomes dry and brittle, often splitting open to reveal the seeds. The seeds are hard, spherical, and typically dark brownish-black, leading to the common name “Indian shot” due to their resemblance to small pellets.
Maximizing Blooms Through Deadheading
Deadheading, the practice of removing developing pods, is the primary way to extend the flowering period. Allowing the plant to develop mature seeds requires a significant energy investment, diverting resources away from growth. Since plants prioritize reproduction, seed formation signals that the flowering cycle is complete.
By cutting off the spent flower and pod, you redirect resources back into vegetative growth, promoting new rhizomes and additional flower stalks. This encourages a longer, more robust blooming season, often continuing until the first hard frost. Regular deadheading also improves the garden’s aesthetic by eliminating fading blooms.
Collecting Seeds for Propagation
If the goal is to grow new canna lilies, leave the seed pods on the stalk until they are fully ripe. The pods must dry out completely, which usually takes several weeks after the flower fades. They are ready for harvest once they turn brown and begin to crack open.
Growing from seed introduces genetic variability, meaning the resulting plants may not look exactly like the parent, especially if it is a hybrid variety. While this can result in unique new characteristics, it is less predictable than propagating through rhizome division.
After extracting the dark, round seeds, clean them of any remaining chaff and allow them to air dry for several days to prevent mold. Store the dried seeds in a cool, dark, and dry environment, such as a paper envelope or a labeled, airtight container.
Techniques for Removal and Harvesting
Deadheading
For deadheading to maximize flowering, use sharp, sterilized pruners to make a clean cut. Locate the spent flower stalk containing the green seed pod and follow it down to the first healthy leaf or the main stem. Cutting just above this point removes the spent material while leaving the developing buds or foliage intact to encourage the next flush of growth.
Harvesting Seeds
To harvest the seeds, wait until the entire stalk containing the pods has turned brown and dried out. At this point, use your pruners to cut the entire seed stalk off the main plant, which makes handling the brittle pods easier. The seeds are then easily removed by gently twisting or peeling back the dry pod casing to release the hard, black spheres inside.