When In South Texas Should I Separate My Canna Lilies?

Canna lilies are perennial flowers that thrive in the heat of July and August and can be divided every 3 to 4 years to prevent overcrowding, disease, and pests. They are slightly winter-tender near the Red River, making late winter dividing time a safer alternative. The best time to transplant canna lilies is in the spring or early summer, after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up.

Canna lilies bloom from mid summer till temperatures drop below freezing. To propagate by division, dig up a clump of cannas and separate as desired with a spade. You can replant the clumps at the same depth in a better spot, spacing them 2 to 3 feet apart. Or, cut the clumps. Adequate spacing is vital to allow for proper air circulation and prevent overcrowding. Leave 12-18 inches of space between canna lily plants to ensure they have room to breathe and grow.

Canna lilies make excellent additions along borders of garden beds, along the sides of buildings, and even on your patio in a container. They bloom from mid summer till the temperatures drop below freezing. In warm climates like Texas, cannas multiply very fast and will need to be divided every few years.

To divide cannas, dig up and divide bulbs and rhizomes after the first freeze or just before new growth begins (mid-summer). The recent rainfall in Central Texas has loosened the soil, making it the perfect time to dig up and divide bulbs and rhizomes. If you chose not to divide, remember that cannas should be divided every 3 to 4 years. When the plants become pot-bound, lift the root-ball, divide the canna bulbs (rhizomes), and replant. Container-grown cannas will need to be replanted in fresh soil next season for best results.

In most canna lilies, they are winter hardy in zones 8-11, so they can be left right in the ground when temperatures drop below freezing.