Peruvian canna is a herbaceous perennial and a member of the Cannaceae family that is most closely related to ginger, banana, and bird of paradise. Native to high elevations in Peru, Colombia and Costa Rica, it grows up to 16′ tall from a tuber like rhizome and has a stout unbranched stem sheathed with bluish green oblong leaves up to 2′ long. The rosy pink flowers are tubular, about 1.5″ long, and hang in pendent racemes from late summer to fall. Peruvian canna is unusual because of its height and pendent flower clusters and is a good choice for a tropical garden. The genus name, canna, comes from the Greek word Kanna meaning reed. The specific epithet, iridiflora, comes from name of the Greek goddess of the rainbow, Iris, and the Latin word flora meaning flower, and means iris-like
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Bloom: Rosy pink tubular flowers 1.5″ long in pendent racemes from late summer to fall
Size: 4-16′ H x 3-4′ W
Light:Full sun
Soil:Fertile, moderately moist, well-drained
Hardiness: Zones 8-11
Care: Low maintenance
Pests and Diseases: Slugs
Propagation: Seed, division
Companion Plants:Elephant ear, banana, angel’s trumpet
Outstanding Selections: C. ‘Ehemannii
Photo Credit Peter coxhead Wikipedia