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Golden canna, Bandana-of-the-everglades Canna flaccida
Cannaceae
Copyright by: Roger L. Hammer
General Landscape Uses:
Water gardens and along pond and lake edges.
Ecological Restoration Notes: A somewhat rare understory element of swamps and marshes.
Availability:
Widely cultivated.
Description: Large herb with large leaves and bright yellow flowers.
Dimensions: Typically 4-6 feet in height. Individual stems are taller than broad, but clusters of plants may form a mass.
Growth Rate: Fast.
Range:
Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland. Not documented on barrier islands in southeastern Florida, but possibly historically present; it grows well at Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach.
Soils: Wet to moist, moderately well-drained to poorly drained organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements: High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Yellow.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring-summer.
Fruit: Brown capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology: Larval host and nectar source for Brazilian skipper (Calpodes ethlius) butterflies. Attracts bee, bat and hummingbird pollinators. Provides food for birds.
Horticultural Notes: Can be grown from seed or division.
References: Nelson 2003
Comments: See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
