When those Canna lilies start showing off their brilliant yellows, oranges, and reds, it’s a real “wow” moment for any gardener. They’re so stunning that most of us want to keep that show going for as long as possible. The good news? You can actually stretch out that blooming season on both ends!
Blooms starting in early summer
Typically, Canna blooms make their debut around June and keep the party going for several weeks throughout the summer. Depending on which variety you’ve planted, your garden will be glowing with fiery reds, sunny yellows, and every sunset shade in between. Some types even sport gorgeous bicolor petals.
Keeping the color alive well into autumn
One of the best things about Canna lilies (also known as Indian Shot) is that you can actually keep them blooming deep into the fall—right up until the first frost hits. All it takes is a little extra TLC. Don’t worry, though; Cannas are pretty low-maintenance otherwise. Just give them regular water and a bit of fertilizer once a month, and they’re happy campers.
How to make it happen
If you want to extend the flowering season, the secret is “deadheading.” You’ll want to snip off wilted flowers as soon as they start to fade. Make it a habit to check on your plants every few days. By removing the old blooms, you’re telling the plant to stop putting energy into making seeds and instead focus on pumping out new flowers. The more consistent you are with this, the longer your Canna will keep pushing out fresh buds.
Getting a head start in spring
Want flowers even earlier? You can actually jumpstart the season by starting your plants indoors during the late winter. If you give them a head start inside, you’ll often see your first flowers as early as May. Just a heads-up: wait until June before transplanting them into the garden to avoid any late chills, or simply keep them in large containers year-round.
Here’s a quick cheat sheet for your Canna blooming season:
- Flowers usually start appearing in June.
- You can keep them blooming until fall by consistently deadheading faded flowers.
- Indoor-started plants can start flowering as early as May.
