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Canna Florida Gardening

Purple Canna foliage

Florida_Joe's_Z10a

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I just bought some Canna rhizomes that are supposed to have purple foliage. Would the foliage be more purple in really intense all day sun or would it be a bit washed out/greener? Would it be more purple if protected from the hottest sun? I don't care about the blooms so much at this point.

Featured Answer

dirtygardener

5 years ago

Yes, the more sun they get, the deeper purple the leaves become. What flowers does yours have? I have two with purple leaves. One is the purple-leaf Canna indica, which gets very tall and has a spike of flowers. The other I got had no name, but it's a shorter variety with purple leaves and regular red canna flowers.

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Comments (14)

Florida_Joe's_Z10a
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
'Wyoming' The package shows dramatic purple foliage and deep orange flowers but some of the online pictures are less impressive in coloration I now see. I'll start them in full sun as per your suggestion.
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dirtygardener
5 years ago
Well, the name says it all, doesn't it? Lots of full sun in Wyoming.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a
Original Author
5 years ago
I don't know. I doubt this plant would feel at home in Wyoming lol
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Looks beautiful! I have one purple-foliage canna that loves full sun as do most of mine. The only one that seems to like more filtered sun is Cleopatra which has the two-colored very defined foliage.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
Florida_Joe's_Z10a
Original Author
5 years ago
I looked up canna 'Cleopatra'. Wowza! Never seen one like that.

The thing is in my yard so many plants that are said to require full sun get either burnt or stunted in full summer sun. I even had a rose bush get burnt and refuse to grow until I moved it to part sun.
dirtygardener
5 years ago
You're pretty far south, but when I was in 9b/10a in Sarasota Co. (which was later changed to just 10a), all my cannas liked full sun except the native water cannas, which preferred semi-shade.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a thanked dirtygardener
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Florida_Joe, yes I have the same experience here with the term "full sun" that appears on many plant tags. The altitude and extreme dryness here outside Denver at about 5,500 feet seems to impact their ability to withstand full sun. Most plants that say "full sun" actually do better in filtered sun here. But I will say that cannas seem to thrive in it.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
Florida_Joe's_Z10a
Original Author
5 years ago
Okay thanks. I planted them
popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
Come back and give us some updates. I can't do anything with mine until April 1 when I begin the daily in and out process until temps are stable. But I do it out of love!
sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
5 years ago
I have the rich deep purple Australia, Its in a pot- but huge. Not going dormant at all so far this winter.
dirtygardener
5 years ago
Just one more thing. If you put them in full sun, water them a lot to prevent the leaf edges turning brown. Cannas love water, and can actually be grown in water.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a
Original Author
5 years ago
That's a really desirable variety Sultry. I looked it up. Thanks Dirtygardener. That probably explains why cannas never look all that fantastic where I see them around town. They're always completely ignored and often look stressed a bit.
Florida_Joe's_Z10a
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
That's a lot of love Popmama! But completely understandable. LoL I'll make sure to post pics of their progress. Hopefully they come out at least half resembling the picture on the package. Lol I know often with professional pics it's all mirrors and lighting. Lol

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