The name Canna originates from the Latin word for a cane or reed. Canna, or canna lily, achira, is the only genus of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae. Cannas are not true lilies, their closest relatives are the gingers, bananas, arrowroots, heliconias and birds of paradise.

Cannas extended flowering season from summer through fall and luxurious foliage guarantee a spectacular display. You could start Canna indoors in late March for a head start on growth. Canna roots are actually rhizomes (an underground stem not a bulb), and are planted in May. Canna loves well-drained, rich or sandy soil, and does even take soggy conditions. The rhizomes are planted horizontally and covered with an inch of soil. Space rhizomes 1 to 4 feet apart. Water thoroughly, then withhold water for as long as 3 weeks and watch for signs of growth. Blooms should appear in 10 to 12 weeks. To keep them happy give Cannas full sun, warm temperature, and rich soil. Cannas will tolerate partial shade but require at least 4 hours of direct sun. Start fertilizing Cannas monthly as they grow throughout the summer with a 12-4-8 fertilizer or its organic equivalent. During the hottest weeks of the summer, give the plants a good soaking drink of water every other day. Indoors, display them in large containers near brightly light windows. Cannas have strong stems, so even the tall varieties rarely need staking. However, when planting outside, protect Cannas from the wind to keep their leaves from shredding. Keep Cannas tidy through the summer by pruning off spent flowers to keep them blooming and cut back the stalks to the ground in fall. In zones 6 and lower, Cannas don't overwinter well. It's best to dig them up and store them in dry peat in a cool place for the winter.

Cut back the spent flower stalks to the 2nd or 3rd leaf from the ground for your cannas to be shorter and fuller during the growing season. Canna seeds are used as beads in jewelry. A purple dye is obtained from the seed. A fiber obtained from the leaves is used for making paper. In Thailand, Cannas are a traditional gift for Father's Day.