Although this is a very old post...I'm hoping that someone will be willing to answer a question or two for me. In 2009, struwwelpeter said in this thread "Is it cold hardy in zone 5 (unlike any of other variegated canna)?" I'm in zone 6a (NE Ohio--Cleveland area) and would like to try overwintering some cannas outside. Actually I don't have any cannas yet, but my first bulbs should be arriving soon from an eBay seller located in NC. Neither of the cannas in that order are variegated, but I would like to try some variegated ones too. That said, can anyone tell me if there are any variegated cannas that are or aren't cold hardy to zone 6? I'm assuming that the others will do fine if planted 4-6in deep, on the Southern side of the house, not too far from the foundation, and mulched. On another note, can anyone recommend any sellers or places that are known to have healthy cannas? I have no experience with spotting problems other than bad-looking foliage, and although the seller I've just purchased from has had some virused plants on her property, she seems to know what she's doing in planting new additions at a distance and minimizing risk to the rest of her yard. Her area does have problems with canna leaf rollers, but I'm hoping that there is little/no risk in her bulbs bringing eggs into my yard (if there aren't some in mine already, which I'm assuming there aren't). Any other tips, I'm all ears... Not new to gardening, but definitely new to canna.

I planted the Alternathera this Spring , and it did really fantastic. It got huge and I just snipped the tips back, and stuck them in some pots, and they rooted and took off. Alternathera has several species types from low trialing types to large 3 foot high bushes. they come in Chartreuse,Burgundy, Purple, and the more common Joseph's Coat, which has green, cream and pink variagation. Another plant I ran across this Spring was a type of Oxalis called Charmed Velvet. It is just wonderful. This Summer in 104 heat, it was one of the few plants that thrived. I understand it's best to plant them in pots, become they will spread and become invasive. I have them in my window boxes on my shed with Panzies.

Ah ha! Here is one to consider: Ternstroemia, and apparently there is a bronze cultivar. Mine is just green with some very slight coloration, I got it at Colvos Creek last year. And if the evergreen part is more important than the bronze/red color, you can consider Drimys lanceolata and Daphnephyllum for their red petioles, Drimys winteri for the blue green leaves, Osmanthus decorus for very dark green foliage. or you could spray paint an acuba. Here is a link that might be useful: ternstroemia

My aren't you a pretentious little busy bee Lisa? Yes, I am quite aware that the full name of my plant is Heliconia caribaea cv "Purpurea" but don't feel the need to write that out fully when most people who actually grow heliconia know what I am speaking of when I just say Heliconia purpurea, which is how most people refer to this plant. No, I don't spray my plants with leaf shine, no I don't wipe things off my plants, and yes I am certain this is Heliconia purpurea, whether you think it looks like it or not. The flower on H purpurea often emerges lighter than it ends up, at times it even emerges green and turns a deep red later, or didn't you know that? Let me guess, you didn't know that. And yes, I do have several caribaea x bihai hybrids in my collection, I am aware that they exist. I have about 40 cultivars of heliconia growing and blooming in my greenhouse. Only 3 are unidentified, and they came from Hawaii, like you.