Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Plant Canna Bulbs
Discover where and how to plant canna lily bulbs for a successful, colorful lily garden. The key criteria: location and fertilization.
Canna lilies (Canna x generalis) are perennials grown from bulbs in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11. The plant is prized for its unusual shape and color -- its veined, glossy foliage and spiked, vibrantly hued blossoms make it a striking statement piece. Instead of buying a juvenile canna lily plant, start your own lily garden by planting canna bulbs directly in the soil.
Location, Location, Location
Canna lilies thrive when grown with lots of heat and direct sunlight. While they can tolerate some partial shade, shading weakens the plant and reduces the amount of flowers it produces.
For the best results, look for a warm planting site that gets at least six hours of sunshine every day. East- and west-facing portions of the yard will receive the most sunlight, and west-facing flowerbeds are ideal because they also get the most heat.
Soil Preparation and Planting
Plant canna lilies as soon as possible in the spring, but only after the last frost date in the region has passed. Frost is lethal to this heat-loving bulb.
Things You'll Need
Garden fork or garden spade
Well-aged compost
10-10-10 garden fertilizer
Step 1
Break up the planting site's soil to a depth of 15 inches with a garden fork or garden spade.
Step 2
Remove sticks, rocks and other debris.
Step 3
Mix in a 4-inch layer of well-aged compost. Canna lilies require soil that's rich in organic matter. Compost enhances soil drainage, boosts aeration and improves micronutrient levels.
Step 4
Dig a planting hole that's 6 inches deep and approximately 4 inches across.
Step 5
Add 1/3 cup of 10-10-10 general purpose garden fertilizer to the planting hole, mixing it into the soil at the bottom of the hole. The fertilizer will speed up the plant's growth and establishment.
Step 6
Place the canna lily bulb into the hole. Orient the bulb so that the eye -- the dot-like node on the bulb that will sprout -- is facing upward, toward the sky.
Step 7
Fill the hole back up with soil and tap it with the garden spade to settle the soil.
Tip
If you're planting more than one canna lily, separate each planting hole by 4 feet.
Post-Planting Care
After planting the canna lily bulb or rhizome, cover the planting site with an inch or two of mulch. Mulch keeps weeds from invading the lily flowerbed and also conserves soil moisture.
Water the planting site once a day, using enough water to moisten the soil to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Keep the soil consistently moist until the lily bulbs sprout, which can take approximately two to three weeks. Then reduce watering so that you only water after the top couple of inches of soil has dried out.
