Banana-leaved canna

Perennial

Canna ‘Musifolia’

Banana-leaved canna

Also known as: Canna musifolia, Canna × musifolia

A towering canna grown for its enormous, banana-like green leaves edged and veined in burgundy.

  • Full sun
  • 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
  • 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft)
  • H3 · Zone 9
  • August–October
  • Deciduous
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

One of the tallest cannas, Musifolia (meaning banana-leaved) sends up stout stems 2.5-4m tall clothed in huge, paddle-shaped leaves of fresh green with burgundy-red edges, midribs and stems, giving an instant jungle effect. Small orange-red flowers may appear late in hot summers, but it rarely flowers freely in cool climates and is grown for foliage. It grows from fleshy rhizomes that tolerate light frost (about -5°C / 23°F) under a deep, dry mulch. In colder regions, lift and store the rhizomes frost-free over winter. In frost-free climates it grows all year. It holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun
Height 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
Spread 0.6–1 m (2–3 ft)
Hardiness H3 · Zone 9
Flowers August–October
Soil Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Clump forming, Upright
Water High
Maintenance Moderate

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -5°C (23°F)
pH Range 6–7.5
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Site Tolerance

  • Wet soil

Soil Tolerance

  • Clay
  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Canna ‘Musifolia’ (Banana-leaved canna)
Canna ‘Musifolia’ (Banana-leaved canna)
Persistence Deciduous
Colour Green, Burgundy
Leaf shape / texture oblong
  • Architectural foliage

Foliage interest: May–October

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Propagate
  • Flowering Aug Sep Oct
  • Foliage May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct
  • Propagate Mar Apr May

How to propagate

One way to grow more Banana-leaved canna: the usual steps for each method.

Division Mar–May Easy

You'll need: A garden fork or spade (two forks back to back help with big clumps) and a sharp knife.

  1. Water the plant well the day before.
  2. Dig up the whole clump with a fork, keeping as much root as you can.
  3. Split it into pieces about the size of your fist, each with healthy roots and shoots: pull them apart by hand, or cut tough clumps with a knife or spade.
  4. Throw away any old, woody middle.
  5. Replant the pieces straight away at the same depth, and water them in well.
How long
Settles in within a few weeks.
It's worked when
Fresh new growth within a few weeks.
Then
Water in dry spells for the rest of the season.

Divide rhizomes in spring, keeping at least one strong growing point on each piece, and start them in warmth before planting out.

Maintenance Calendar

  • Mar Divide and pot up rhizomes in warmth to give them a head start
  • May Plant out after the last frost in a warm, sheltered, sunny spot
  • Jun Feed every two weeks and water freely, as such big leaves need plenty of food and water
  • Nov After frost blackens the leaves, cut stems down and either lift the rhizomes to store frost-free or cover them with a deep, dry mulch

Garden Design

Works well in: Modern / Contemporary, Tropical / Exotic

Use as a tall summer screen or the backbone of an exotic border; backlit by low sun, the red-edged leaves glow. Shelter it from strong wind, which shreds the leaves.

Companion planting: Bananas, Gingers, Dahlias, Large grasses

Wildlife Value

  • Shelter

Safety

Not known to be toxic; ornamental rhizomes and seed are not intended as food.