Canna Tropical Sunrise Canna Lily Bulbs

Plant Canna Tropical Sunrise in spring, and in summer, this dwarf canna lily produces masses of broad, fleshy, lush, green leaves topped with huge, flamboyant flowers, ruffled and a blushing apricot color mingled with soft pink. Borne atop long, strong, sturdy stems the prolific flower spikes bloom from summer to fall, beckoning to butterflies and hummingbirds.

A Canna hybrid, commonly called canna lily or Indian shot, Tropical Sunrise is an exotic, herbaceous, tender perennial that has an upright, very compact, clumping habit. The plant grows quickly and spreads by rhizomes. Heat- and humidity-loving, cannas mingle well with other annuals and perennials, especially those that share the canna lily’s tropical temperament. They grow well in boggy areas and around water features. Grouped or massed, cannas create a theatrical backdrop for shorter plants in beds and borders, but they also make spectacular screens in mild climates and can even be grown in a large container. Canna Tropical Sunrise’s small stature makes it an especially nice “thriller” (focal point) in a container garden on patios, terraces, and entrances.

A tough, easy-grow, easy-care plant, canna lilies grow best in sunny locations with organically rich, moist, well-draining soil; but they tolerate partial shade and most soils, including poorly drained soils. Cannas tend to be thirsty and hungry, so keep the plant well watered and well fed with plenty of compost or organic fertilizer. Deadheading the entire stalk encourages blooming. Canna Tropical Sunrise is deer resistant.

In regions with mild winters (Zones 8-11), the plant can be cut back to soil level and left in the ground or in pots over winter. In regions with severe winters (Zones 3-6), the plant can be cut to about 4 inches after the first frost in late autumn, the rhizome clump dug up, dried a few days, and stored in a cool, dry place. In early summer, divide the rhizome shoots, and replant when soil temperature is a minimum of 60°F, setting the rhizome in the hole “eyes” (shoots) up.