Canna Lilies

In the South Canna lilies are used in basic landscaping. They can be used in homes and around homes as a gardening piece. I remember Cannas outside of Cotton's Barbeque when I was younger. They came in reds and deep oranges with tall dark stems and green leaves that are broad and large. The flowers are just as large as  the Dinner-plate Dahlias that also grew outside the building with the Canas.


The Cana Lily can live near water or in subtropic or near those areas. They are numerous in around Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida. They were more numerous in the 70's through the 80's when they were more stylish. My grandmother had cannas at the end of her yard. They came back every year like the rest of her lilies. Cannas are the only lily in their class, there are nineteen species of them known to their class. Rhizomes root the large  cane like lily in moist soil. My grandmother kept her Cannas near the well in front of the old smoke house.


The wild type of Canas like my grandmother had grew to about 7 to 9 feet tall. They had enormous flowers on them. They aren't as numerous in the wild now because of the fact they are so large and individuals get them for their landscaping. Like the pitcher plant, they are becoming more diminished.


Resources:

Alabama Cooperative Extension      http://www.aces.edu
Wikipedia on Cana     http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canna_%28plant%29