FNPS Plant Database

Canna flaccida

golden canna, Bandana-of-the-Everglades
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: John Bradford, Martin County Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
  • Photo by: Dick Diener
  • Photo by: Ginny Stibolt, Ixia Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

golden canna, Bandana-of-the-Everglades

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Canna flaccida

Family:

Cannaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

3-6 ft tall by to 4 ft wide.  Spreads broadly via rhizomes.

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

yellow

Fruit Color:

brown

Phenology:

Winter dormant (north), evergreen (south). Blooms spring-summer. Clones are long-lived.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers, Interesting Foliage

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Grow as stands of flowers in moist areas.

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Specialty Provider

Propagation:

Seed or clumps can be divided (rhizomes). Seeds are available through the Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded---------------------------------Extremely Dry

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Aquatic -to- Usually moist, occasional inundation

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Clay, Loam, Organic

Soil pH:

adaptable

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B,10A,10B

USDA zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature.

Don't know your zone? Click here to search by zip code.

Ecology

Wildlife:

Pollinators, Caterpillars

Self-fertile, so seeds can be produced by self-pollination.


Pollination is facilitated by bees.


Larval host of the Brazilian skipper butterfly ( Calpodes ethlius ).

Self-fertile, so seeds can be produced by self-pollination. Pollination is facilitated by  bats, hummingbirds, and other small wildlife species.

Native Habitats:

Wet sites. Swamps, pond and lake margins, ditches, savannas, hydric pine flatwoods.

Natural Range in Florida:

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Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments:

Citations:

Hammer, Roger. (2015). Attracting Hummingbirds and Butterflies in Tropical Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Huegel, Craig N. (2012). Native Wildflowers and Other Ground Covers for Florida Landscapes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Minno, Marc and Maria Minno. (1999). Florida Butterfly Gardening: A Complete Guide to Attracting, Identifying, and Enjoying Butterflies. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Nelson, Gil. (2003). Florida's Best Landscape Plants: 200 Readily Available Species for Homeowners and Professionals. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Osorio, Rufino. (2001). A Gardener's Guide to Florida's Native Plants. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.


Wunderlin, R. P., B. F. Hansen, A. R. Franck, and F. B. Essig. (1999+). Atlas of Florida Plants. ( https://florida.plantatlas.usf.edu/ ). [S. M. Landry and K. N. Campbell (application development), USF Water Institute.] Institute for Systematic Botany, University of South Florida, Tampa.

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