# Canna Lily (*Canna generalis Bailey*)

Canna Lilies have large, colorful flowers that look like they are waving hello! They are perfect for brightening up gardens during the summer.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Gardens and marshy areas
- **Also known as:** Canna, Indian Shot

![Canna Lily](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424756/objects/4985.jpg)

## Appearance

The Canna Lily has large, paddle-shaped leaves that can be bright green, bronze, or striped, making it stand out in any garden. Its vibrant flowers, often red, orange, yellow, or pink, emerge on tall stalks, displaying an exotic and tropical flair.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Order:** Zingiberales
- **Family:** Cannaceae
- **Genus:** Canna

## Interesting facts

- Canna Lilies can help clean water, soaking up pollutants from wetland areas.
- Canna Lily seeds are so hard, they've been used as beads and even shotgun pellets!
- Their rhizomes are edible, tasting a bit like sweet potatoes when cooked!
- These plants are related to bananas and ginger, sharing a tropical family tree.

## Special abilities

- **Underground Pantry:** Canna Lily has thick, starchy rhizomes underground that store food, helping it survive cold winters or dry spells.
- **Hummingbird Magnet:** Canna Lily can produce bright, trumpet-shaped flowers that are perfectly shaped to attract hummingbirds for pollination.
- **Big Leaf Power:** Canna Lily has very large leaves that efficiently capture sunlight, helping it make lots of energy through photosynthesis.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 100-300 cm
- **Spread:** 30-100 cm
- **Flower Size:** 5-10 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer-fall
- **Edible:** Yes
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Bird

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Feeds on nectar, aiding reproduction.
- **Pollinates:** [Eastern Tiger Swallowtail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-tiger-swallowtail) (*Papilio glaucus*) — Adult butterflies drink nectar.
- **Eats:** [Wild Boar](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wild-boar) (*Sus scrofa*) — May dig up and consume rhizomes.

## Traits

- [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.
- [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Canna Lily?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Canna Lily?

100-300 cm

### How wide does Canna Lily spread?

30-100 cm

### How big are the flowers on Canna Lily?

5-10 cm

### When does Canna Lily bloom?

Summer-fall

### Is Canna Lily edible?

Yes

### Is Canna Lily toxic?

None

### What is Canna Lily's lifecycle?

Perennial

## Where to spot

- [Lenclair Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lenclair-park) — Virginia, US · Park

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Canna Lily: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/canna-lily)