Bronze Orange Canna

Bronze Orange Canna (Canna x generalis 'Bronze Orange') is a big-leaved, tropical-looking perennial that stands 70cm to 1.2m tall and only 35cm to 50cm wide. Deep bronze-green leaves set off large burnt orange flowers from mid spring until the frosts. It is raised from seed rather than from a heavy rhizome, so it arrives as a young plant you can pot up for the patio or plant straight into the garden.

Why you'll love it

• Foliage that carries the plant. Broad bronze-green leaves bring bold colour and shape even between flushes of flowers.
• Burnt orange flowers. Large, showy blooms in a deep orange pair beautifully with the dark leaves and open from mid spring.
• A long season. Flowers continue until the first frosts, so one plant covers the whole warm season.
• Small enough for a pot. At 35cm to 50cm wide it suits a patio container, yet it is tall enough to make an impact in a bed.
• Tough. It is frost hardy to -12C once in the ground, copes with heat and dry spells, and dies back over winter before shooting again.

Where it works best

Feature planting. Group three or five plants about 45cm apart so the leaves just meet. The dark foliage and orange flowers make a hot, tropical-style display.

Patio pots and containers. Use one plant per pot 30cm wide or more, and keep it in full sun for the most flowers. The narrow spread keeps it in proportion on a deck or balcony.

Tropical-style borders. Plant it with other bold-leaved plants for a lush look. It flowers most in full sun and still performs in part shade.

Growing Bronze Orange Canna in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun gives the most flowers, though part shade works. The plant is frost hardy to -12C and goes dormant over winter, so it suits tropical, subtropical and temperate gardens alike. In cold districts, spread a generous layer of mulch over the crown once the top growth has died back, to keep the roots warm.

Soil. Plant in nutritious soil. Dig in compost before planting, and use a quality potting mix in containers.

Water and feed. In dry spells water weekly at the base of the plant or into the pot, not over the leaves. Feed fortnightly through the growing season, or use a slow release fertiliser each season.

Pruning. Remove spent flower stems to keep the clump tidy, and cut the dead foliage to the ground after it dies back in winter.

What to expect when it arrives

We sell Bronze Orange Canna as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. Because it is raised from seed rather than from a large rhizome, expect a small leafy plant, not an instant clump. Plant it into warm soil or pot it on, and it builds leaf fast through the warm months.

Our grower supplies the tubes, and they are not always available. A tube shows as sold out when the grower has none, and the notify button on this page emails you the day it is back.

Plants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• More tropical plants
• Plants that suit pots and containers
• More flowering plants
• Designing a lush tropical garden

Common questions

How tall does it grow?

Between 70cm and 1.2m, with a spread of 35cm to 50cm. Full sun, regular feeding and steady moisture push it toward the top of that range.

Will it survive winter?

It is frost hardy to -12C and goes dormant over winter, so the leaves die back and the roots shoot again in spring. In cold gardens, mulch generously over the crown once the top growth has gone.

Can I grow it in a pot?

Yes, its narrow spread suits a patio pot. Water into the pot weekly in dry spells, feed fortnightly and keep it in full sun for the best flowering.