Canna × generalis – Canna Lily, Indian Shot
- Hakan Sener
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Explore Canna × generalis (Canna Lily) – its characteristics, habitat, cultivation, propagation, and functional uses and benefits.
Canna × generalis | Botanical Characteristics
Common Names: Canna Lily, Indian Shot
Family: Cannaceae
Appearance: Bold tropical-looking perennial with large, banana-like leaves (green, bronze, or variegated) and bright, showy flowers in red, orange, yellow, or pink, held above the foliage on tall stalks.
Type: Perennial
Evergreen / Deciduous: Deciduous in temperate climates; evergreen in the tropics
Layer: Herb Layer
Root System: Thick, fleshy rhizomes
Height: 0.6–2 meters depending on cultivar
Width: 0.5–1 meter
Lifespan: Long-lived perennial with regular division
Growth Rate: Fast
Fertility: Some cultivars are self-fertile; many are sterile hybrids
Flowers: Hermaphroditic
Pollinator: Attracts bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies
Toxicity: Not considered toxic
Canna × generalis | Habitat and Cultivation
Range
Native Range: Not found in the wild; derived from hybrids of species native to tropical and subtropical Americas
Companionship: Often planted with ornamental grasses, elephant ears (Colocasia), and other tropical-style perennials
Invasive Range: Not considered invasive; spreads slowly via rhizomes
USDA Hardiness Zone: 7–11 (rhizomes need protection or lifting in colder zones)
Minimum Chill Hours Required: None specified
Resistance/Tolerance
Poor Soil: Moderate tolerance
Drought: Moderate tolerance (requires moisture to flower well)
Shade: Moderate tolerance
Flood: High tolerance (often used in wetland edges and rain gardens)
Wind: Moderate tolerance
Maritime: Moderate tolerance
Air Pollution: Moderate tolerance
Fire: Moderate tolerance
Thriving Conditions
Sun Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Soil Moisture: Prefers consistently moist soils
Soil Type: Rich, loamy, well-drained or even boggy soils
Soil PH: Prefers slightly acidic to neutral (6.0–7.0)
Propagation
Seeds: Some cultivars may produce viable seeds; scarification improves germination
Cuttings: Not typical
Division: Easily propagated by dividing rhizomes in spring
Canna × generalis | Functional Uses and Benefits
Edible: Rhizomes are edible when cooked (used in some traditional cuisines and starch production)
Medicinal: Limited traditional use, mostly rhizome-based for digestive issues (varies by culture)
Cosmetics: Not commonly used in cosmetics
Animal Feed: Young leaves and rhizomes occasionally used as fodder in some regions
Fiber: Not used for fiber
Timber: Not applicable
Firewood: Not applicable
Wind Break: Not suitable as a windbreak
Fence: Not typically used as a barrier plant
Cover Crop: Not used as a cover crop
Mulch: Not typically used as mulch
Nitrogen Fixer: No
Dynamic Accumulator: No significant data available
Pollinator Attractor: Yes, attracts hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies
Pest Repellent: Not commonly noted as a pest repellent
Wildlife Supporter: Provides nectar for pollinators and cover for small wildlife in moist areas
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