Canna coccinea (Indian Shot Plant)

The ‘Indian Shot’ plant. From northern Argentina. A confusing name, granted, but an absolute stunner. Botanical fireworks. A tender perennial up to 2metres or so, which flowers in mid to late summer.

You want exotica? Here it is. Their cartoonishly-large oval leaves are sumptuously green and wrap strong upright stems which heave glorious panicles of flowers up and into your face. Some of the most vibrantly- orange flowers around, enhanced by occasional curling petals of apricot and yellow. These will be produced with enthusiasm but a fertile location is recommended.

Plant cannas in a warm, sunny position in rich, moist soil. Can be left outside in mild areas but even there it is a jolly good idea to mulch in winter (after removing the collapsed leaves…they won’t stand for the chill). In very warm and sheltered gardens, they may stay green but otherwise they will die down.

In colder areas, or if feeling cautious, they can be dug up in the autumn. Store roots in dry peat in frost-free conditions over winter.

That said, they’re excellent grown in a pot, where you can plonk them as you like and haul them into a greenhouse or conservatory later. Do be careful not to over water in the winter and early spring and aim to keep the soil almost completely dry. It can be as late as May before they break into growth again, and this is when they should be kept well fed and watered for the summer.

Watering with dilute tomato food in the late spring and early summer will promote flowering.

Propagated by us by division.

N.B. When clipping several plants with the same tool, have a bucket containing a 5% bleach solution and swish your blades around for 30 seconds between plants to sterilise them. This will help avoid the chance of cross contamination of disease.

As with all woody plants, plant high, exposing as much of the taper at the base of the trunk as possible. Allowing soil to accumulate round the base of a tree can be fatal. Keep very well watered when first planted.