When Are The Canna Lilies Separated?

Canna lilies are easy to grow and highly prized for their beautiful flowers. They thrive in the heat of July and August and can be easily divided into multiple plants. The best time to plant canna lilies is in April and May, and they are usually best started off in pots. Cannas have strong underground stems called rhizomes, which can be found in bags during the dormant season.

To propagate cannas, dig them up when they aren’t blooming, shaking off the dirt and dividing the rhizomes. This process usually breaks apart fairly easily. You can start planting your canna lily flowers any time after the last frost of the year, typically in mid-spring to early summer. If you want to start them earlier, canna lilies can be started indoors and transplanted.

In warmer climates, cannas will need to be dug up and divided every 4-5 years. Spring is the best time to divide, although I often do mine in late January/February. Canna rhizomes should be lifted and divided in mid-autumn or after their leaves have withered and they are entering dormancy. Most division is done in spring as the new buds are starting to grow. For hardy plants, dig the whole clump up as they break.

To propagate canna lilies, dig them up in spring before planting them back outside in the garden or if you have overwintered them outside. The simplest way to propagate them is by division, which involves cutting down from the top about 3-4″ into quarters and pushing or pulling the quarters apart by hand to separate the roots.