Canna lily

Cannas are great for late autumn colour in the garden, they have tall lush foliage so are best at the back of a border, or grow in containers and place in the border as other perennials start to fade. They prefer rich, warm and moist soil. Lift and store in mid-November, like dahlias, to protect from frost and to give them a rest (they won't flower the following year if they don't have a rest). In spring (March) when the shoots start to emerge, pot up into a large pot, keep them in the greenhouse and start to feed, once a fortnight with a liquid seaweed fertilizer. When the chance of frost has passed (late May), start to harden them off in a cold frame or sheltered position. Plant in the garden with a rich moisture retaining compost and mulch well. To propagate, cut back a plant, but keep it growing in a warm greenhouse, or indoors, it will produce offshoots, through the winter, these can be pulled off and potted up, but they won't produce flowers until their roots have had their winter dormant period. They can also be grow from collected seed, but it will take a number of years for the plants to reach maturity, before flowering. The flowers only last a couple of days, before dying, to be replaced by another flower on the flower spike, once all of the buds have opened, cut this flower spike back to the next side shoot, which should produce another flower spike with multiple flowers. Most cannas will produce 3 or 4 flower spikes a year. Canna lilies are harmless to cats and dogs, unlike other lilies such as the calla lily which is poisonous.