Canna glauca Australis - Water Canna

Canna glauca 'Australis' forms a clump of large leaves of intense purple that can reach up to 2m in height. This dark foliage is an ideal backdrop for its generous reddish-orange flowering. Its flowers bloom from June until the first frost. It is an aquatic plant to be planted in the sun in moist to very wet soil, or even with its feet in the water, up to 20cm deep. It adds an exotic touch to flower beds and ponds. Not very hardy, it is best to bring the rhizome indoors during the winter.

From the cannaceae family, Canna glauca is an aquatic species native to wet areas of tropical America, extending to the southern United States. It has since naturalized in Asia. The 'Australis' variety grows from rhizomes that can be planted in moist to very wet soil or in water, up to 20cm deep. Its large deciduous lance-shaped leaves are purple, almost black, shiny, and veined. The upright clump can reach 1.5 to 2m in height and 60cm in width. Throughout the summer and early autumn, this aquatic canna produces spikes adorned with reddish-orange flowers, which delight pollinating insects.

This 'Australis' water canna will easily find its place in a sunny flower bed as long as the soil is moist. It can also adorn the banks of a pond or basin. Create an exotic atmosphere by pairing it with plants with lush foliage such as Thalia dealbata or Colocasia Mojito with light green foliage speckled with purple. To add a bit of brightness, add some Iris ensata 'Diamant' with white flowers.