When To Place Outside Canna Lilies?

Canna lilies thrive in rich, moisture-retentive soil in full sun or light shade, making them ideal for mixed or tropical borders. They can reach up to 2.5m in height and offer an impressive foliage foil for neighboring flowers. To ensure proper care, new plants should receive at least 6-8 hours of direct sun per day.

Planting canna lilies outside is crucial, and it depends on the growing zone’s conditions. Once temperatures drop below freezing and the foliage turns brown, cut down the foliage and stems to about 6 in. (15cm) and lift the rhizomes for winter storage. If you live outside zones 8 and 9, dig the plants in autumn and store them over the winter. Transplant them in spring and propagate by division every three or five years.

Canna rhizomes can be planted from spring through early summer, starting indoors as early as a month before the average last frost date for earlier blooms or directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed. Divide canna lilies in spring before planting them back outside in the garden or dig them up if you have overwintered them outside.

Canna plants can be left outside in the ground all winter in zones 7 to 10, and they will also grow equally well in large containers dragged. Dig up canna tubers and store them properly over the winter, giving them viable tubers to plant the following spring. Move the plants to a cool greenhouse in mid-April and gradually harden off before planting out at the end of May.

Canna lily care begins by providing ample light, with each canna receiving at least 6-8 hours of direct sun per day. Place cannas right in the ground in zone 7, allowing them space to grow and for the clump to increase in size.