Cannas, gingers, and elephant ears are generally hardy to zones 7-8, and should be treated as annuals in colder climates. They share the common characteristic of having a large underground rhizome or tuber. Their cold hardiness can be increased by topping them with a heavy layer of mulch in the winter. In climates where the ground freezes solid, their tubers can be dug up and stored for the winter. This allows them to be utilized for their tropical effect year after year. As an added bonus, the rhizomes will become bigger each year, creating larger, more robust plants even if dug up and replanted each new season.

Canna ‘Stuttgart’