How to Collect Canna Seeds

The popularity of the tropical plants commonly called cannas (sometimes called canna lily) is no surprise to anyone who has ever grown these plants. From gnarled perennial rhizomes (not canna bulbs) emerge large leaves similar to bananas and gingers (sometimes colorful or stripped) and beautiful blooms in a variety of colors. When we gardeners in northern climates plant cannas in our gardens we usually plant the rhizome in the spring and summer and then lift it in the winter and store indoors. Propagating cannas is easy because all you need is a piece of the rhizome, but you can also propagate cannas from seeds if you know how to collect canna seeds.

How To Plant Iris Rhizomes In Your Garden

This past weekend I transplanted a few clumps of "black" bearded irises in my garden. The first time I planted iris rhizomes I thought they were planted similar to canna rhizomes and planted them too deep in the soil. A couple of clumps of iris rhizomes never bloomed and some bloomed only sporadically over the next few years. While reading a garden book one day I learned that the reason for the poor flower production was probably due to planting the rhizomes too deep.

Growing Elephant Ear Plants In Chicago

Elephant ear plants are herbaceous plants in zone 8 and above. In gardening zones that are colder they are treated as annuals and the corms lifted out of the ground and stored in a cool dry location like the basement of a home. Many gardeners grow these plants because the large foliage, that resemble the ears of an Elephant, help create a garden with a tropical feel.

Zantedeschia 'Blackjack'

I bought this Calla Lily last year at a Lowes garden center. When I walked into the garden center my eyes were immediately drawn to a display of black Calla Lilies that were labeled 'Hot Chocolate' and I picked one up. I'd been purchasing all the black flowers I could find last year for the black and green theme I want to develop in my garden. 

Zantedeschia-Pink Calla Lily Flower

I purchased this calla lily rhizome last year because it was suppose to be a brown colored flower. As you can see the color isn't brown and that is a gamble you take when you shop in big box garden centers and when you buy something that isn't blooming. You never really know what you are going to get until it flowers for you and even then you may never be able to put a name to your plant.