Canna Lily Cleopatra

'Cleopatra' is a beauty, of course, with orchid-like blooms in orange and gold, touched with elegant barely-there speckles. Wide, beautiful green leaves have almost-black backsides for even more garden drama.

Growing Cannas, large and small. Canna lilies are wonderful in the garden. Growing fast, the full size selections quickly form a handsome large-leafed screen or an island of tropical-looking foliage from about 3 to 4 feet tall. And then the show begins, and goes on for weeks and weeks. Huge, iris-like flowers begin to open, and before you know it, your canna lily plants have become the undisputed center of attention in your entire yard.

Cannas are really wetland plants, and can grow in moist ground. Constant wetness isn't necessary, but yous should water them often if you;re not receiving regular rainfall. A snap to grow, cannas are used as municipal plantings in many places like Miami. They are so good at taking care of themselves, adding great stripes of color to median strips, parks, and other places. So pick out a sunny spot in your garden or yard, and add cannas for the big show this summer.

Our good friend, Jack Scheper, the plant expert who runs Floridata.com, tells us that cannas are native to Central and South America, and many of the current hybrids also have a North American species as a parent. Jack grows cannas, and is a big enthusiast. As he says, the foliage "looks like a small banana tree without the trunk."