Cannas in the Phoenix, Arizona area

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Cannas give a great tropical feel here in the Phoenix, Arizona area, but they require some work, and you need to be brave!

After the major heat wave suddenly hit a few weeks ago, the cannas got badly sunburned. But I'm brave, I went out when there was a bit of shade, and I chopped them down until just a few were left. And this is what they do when they come back!

Cannas are grown for their gorgeous foliage, not flowers. And since they grow back so fast, you can cut them back as hard and as often as you want. They also like a lot of water, and plant food. I just poured some fish plant food at the base of these plants (stinks like crazy) and they seem to like it.

The variety that I have here are called "Tropicannas". The foliage goes from a deep purple to a green, and is more purple the more shade it gets. And the best leaves are the new ones. I chop the old ones off pretty quickly. If you don't do that, cannas, unfortunately, can look pretty ratty. So when you see them at apartment complexes, etc., they usually look pretty bad. I go out and snip a bit every morning. I only have canna in the backyard, and only where I can get to it easily with the clippers.

Thunderstorms are in the forecast, and so the cannas will grow even more.

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