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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Canna glauca is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10 and is frost tender. It is in flower from August to October, and the seeds ripen in October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds; South Wall. By. West Wall. By.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Root
Edible Uses:

Root - cooked. The starch can be extracted and used as an arrowroot[2, 46, 61]. The arrowroot is obtained by rasping the root to a pulp, then washing and straining to get rid of the fibres[2]. Very young tubers can be eaten cooked, they are sweet but fibrousy. One report suggests that the fruit may be edible but gives no further details[177]. As far as I know the fruit is a dry capsule[K].

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

None known

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a deep rich well-drained soil in a sunny position[200]. The plant has large leaves and dislikes windy conditions since this can tear the leaves to shreds[200]. This species is not very hardy in Britain, it succeeds outdoors in S. Devon[104], but even there it should be given a good protective mulch over the winter[1]. Plants can be grown as summer bedding in many parts of the country, the tubers can be dug up in the autumn after being lightly frosted. They can be stored over winter in a cool but frost-free place in moist soil or leaves[1]. Slugs love the young growth in spring and can cause serious damage to plants[233].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water and sow February/March in a warm greenhouse at 20°c[1, 138]. Plant the seeds 2 - 5cm deep in individual pots[1]. Scarifying the seed can speed germination, especially if the seed has not swollen after being soaked[124, K]. The seed usually germinates in 3 - 9 weeks[138]. Grow the plants on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division of the root clump as the plant comes into growth in the spring. Each portion must have at least one growing point. Pot up the divisions and grow them on in the greenhouse until they are well established and then plant them out in the summer. Root cuttings.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

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Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Althaea cannabina	Palm-leaf marshmallow	Perennial	1.8	4-8		LMH	N	DM	0	0	1
Apocynum cannabinum	Indian Hemp	Perennial	0.6	4-8		LMH	FSN	M	2	2	3
Canna edulis	Achira, Indian shot	Perennial	3.0	7-10		LMH	N	M	3	0	3
Canna indica	Indian Shot	Perennial	1.5	7-10		LMH	N	M	4	2	3
Cannabis sativa	Hemp, Marijuana	Annual	2.5	8-11		LMH	N	M	4	4	4
Celtis australis	Nettle Tree, European hackberry	Tree	20.0	5-9	M	LM	N	DM	3	2	2
Datisca cannabina	Acalbir, Akalbir	Perennial	1.8	7-10		LMH	N	M	0	1	1
Eupatorium cannabinum	Hemp Agrimony	Perennial	1.5	4-8		LMH	SN	MWe	0	3	1
Hibiscus cannabinus	Kenaf, Brown Indianhemp	Annual/Perennial	1.8	6-12	F	LMH	N	M	4	2	3
Humulus japonicus	Japanese Hop	Perennial Climber	6.0	4-8	F	LMH	SN	M	2	1	1
Humulus lupulus	Hop, Common hop, European Hop,	Perennial Climber	6.0	5-7	M	LMH	SN	DM	4	5	3
Melocanna baccifera	Berry Bamboo. Mali bamboo	Bamboo	15.0	10-12	F	MH	SN	M	3	2	3
Senecio cannabifolius	Aleutian ragwort	Perennial	2.0	4-8		LMH	N	M	1	2
Trema orientalis	Charcoal Tree	Tree	12.0	10-12	F	LMH	N	M	1	2	4
Urtica cannabina		Perennial	1.5	-	M	LMH	SN	M	3	0	3
Vitex cannabifolia		Shrub	3.0	-		LM	N	DM	0	2	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Canna glauca - L.