Canna Lilies

Water Canna Lilies for Ponds

Aquatic canna lilies bring bold tropical color to pond margins and water gardens. Their large, dramatic leaves, some striped or burgundy, and bright blooms in red, orange, yellow and pink give the pond edge an instant tropical look from midsummer into early fall. Most aquatic cannas are hybrids of the water canna, Canna glauca, with garden cannas, bred to grow with their roots in up to 6 inches of water. A few of ours prefer moist garden soil at the pond edge instead, and each listing gives its own depth.

Growing Cannas in Ponds

Plant cannas in large mesh baskets or pots on pond shelves, with the crown 1 to 4 inches below the waterline unless the listing says otherwise. Full sun brings out the richest foliage and the most flowers. Cannas are heavy feeders, so push aquatic fertilizer tablets into the pot every month. Their big root systems also take up nutrients from the water, the same nitrates and phosphates that feed algae. Most canna rhizomes can stay in the ground over winter in zones 7 to 10. In colder zones, cut the plants down after the first frost, lift the rhizomes and store them in dry peat or vermiculite somewhere cool that stays above 40°F. Our planting instructions cover potting and depth.

Plant orders over $99 ship free; lotus ship separately at a flat $18. Questions? Contact our pond experts for canna growing tips.

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