Yellow canna is native to the SE USA from SC to FL and is a member of the canna family (Cannaceae). It is a long-lived rhizomatous perennial found in moist to wet sites along glades. streams and ponds. It is evergreen in the south and goes dormant in the winter further north. This canna will grow 3-6 feet tall in full sun to partial shade. It will grow in clay, loam, and sandy soils. It prefers moist to wet soil but will adapt to drier conditions and is not picky about pH. It is not saltwater tolerant. Propagation is by division of the rhizomes or seeds. The clusters of large yellow flowers are similar to an iris and last the summer into fall or longer. The large leaves can be up to 2 feet long and 6 inches wide. Use this canna in a bog, along a pond or stream or in a rain or water garden. It can also be used in a butterfly or pollinator garden. Keep in mind that it can spread quickly. Yellow canna was used as a parent to many of the early-hybridized cannas that are now known as the Italian Group cannas. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Alkaline (>8.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasional Flooding | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal
Mature size
Height: 3 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in. | Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Leathery
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The large lanceolate leaves are fleshy green to blue-green with pointed tips and spiral alternately along the stem.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow
Flower value
Fragrant; Long Bloom Season; Showy
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The yellow flowers have 3 petals and 3 greenish-yellow sepals that are fused at the base with a single bract. They open later in the day and are short-lived but will repeat bloom into fall or later. They bloom in clusters on ling stems and are up to 3 inches across. The showy parts of the flower are not the petals but consist of a modified style and three stamens
Bloom time
Fall; Spring; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
1-3 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Fruit detail
The rough capsules are 2-3 inches long and contain several black oval seeds
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Green fleshy stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
SE United States
Distribution
AL, FL, GA, LA, MS, SC, TX
Wildlife value
Pollinated by hummingbirds. It is a larval host to skipper butterflies. Other pollinators are attracted to the nectar. Birds and small mammals use them for nesting materials.
Attracts
Bees; Hummingbirds; Pollinators; Small Mammals; Songbirds
Food & Medicine
Edible parts
Leaves; Flowers
Fruit type
Capsule
Edibility
All parts are edible. Flowers are used in salads. The leaves can be used in foods such as tamales.