Cold Hardy Tropicals » Annuals

Canna ‘Tropicana’

admin — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:28:10 +0000

‘Tropicana’, a.k.a. Canna ‘Phaison’, is by far one of the most exotic-looking cannas. Each leaf of Canna ‘Tropicana’ is a combination of dramatic colors which seem to glow in the sun. New foliage emerges in rich burgundy tones, and stripes of red, pink, yellow and green fan out from the vivid central vein as it unfolds. The flowers are tall central blooms of bright orange and gold.

Hardy to Zone 7, its bulbs can be stored indoors in winter in colder climates. ‘Tropicana’ grows best in full sun, and requires frequent watering in the summer to attain its full size and best coloration.

This canna is of South African origin. It was introduced by Anthony Tesselaar, and is patent protected. He has stated that similar cannas are currently in development:

“We were very excited about Tropicanna, as it was a whole new color and direction in cannas. The distinctive foliage brought a new excitement into these plants. There is nothing nicer than when the sun shines through from behind the leaf and allows the colors to radiate. Yes, we are happy to say that we now have another similar canna, but a different color, coming through that will also be of the same tropical look and be a real addition to the Tropicana group.”

Cannas, Gingers, and Elephant Ears

admin — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:53:42 +0000

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’

Tropical-Looking Annuals

admin — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:59:38 +0000

While many annuals share a tropical origin, certain plants are especially useful for giving the tropicalesque garden a certain punch. They can be mixed in as accents with hardier plants. Even using just a few of these annuals along with other cold-hardy tropical looking plants can provide a dramatic effect in the garden. Try using contrasting color combinations of red, lime green, or deep purple to accent masses of green foliage.

Begonia. x hybrida ‘Dragon Wing’
Caladium
Dracaena marginata ‘Tricolor’
Strobilanthes dyerianus
Tradescantia pallida ‘Purple Heart’
Tradescantia zebrina

Strobilanthes dyerianus (Persian Shield)