When Should I Prune My Australian Canna Lilies?

Canna lilies are a popular plant in tropical or warm temperate climates, and they can be pruned during the growing season. However, it is not uncommon for a leaf or two to die during the growing season, which can cause stress to the plant but also pose an eyesore. In autumn or after the first frost, cut the stems back down to the ground and mulch to protect them. In tropical or warm temperate climates, canna lilies will continue to grow and can be cut back hard in autumn or spring.

The best time to trim Australia Canna Lily is in late winter or early spring before new growth begins. The easiest and most effective method of maintaining Canna Lilies is to prune them back to ground level, with the harder the pruning, the more of the older stems you need to remove. Canna Lilies can be left undisturbed for many years, but when clumps start getting large, divide them. Cut off no more than about 15cm (6″) as new flowers will be forming lower down the stem. At the end of the flowering season, cut old stems down to within 2cm (1″) of the ground.

After their blooming is complete when the first frost hits, canna lilies should be pruned right down to keep them healthy. Remove spent blooms promptly and trim back foliage after the first frost, aiding in preserving energy and enhancing the next season’s growth. In winter, once the plant has died back, remove all dead leaves and branches by cutting it back to the rhizome. Clean up plants by removing any damaged ones.

There are multiple cultivars available, reaching 1-2.5 meters tall. Plants die back in autumn and come up in spring, flowering in 6-8 weeks.