Golden canna, Bandana-of-the-everglades
Canna flaccida
Cannaceae


Landscape Uses:

Water gardens and along pond and lake edges.

Ecological Restoration Notes:

A somewhat rare understory element of swamps and marshes.
Availability:
Widely cultivated.
Description:
Large herb with large leaves and bright yellow flowers.
Height:
Typically 4-6 feet in height. Individual stems are taller than broad, but clusters of plants may form a mass.
Growth Rate:
Fast.
Range:
Southeastern United States west to Texas and south to Miami-Dade County and the Monroe County mainland. Not documented on barrier islands in southeastern Florida, but possibly historically present; it grows well at Pan’s Garden in Palm Beach.
Habitats:
Swamps and marshes.
Soils:
Wet to moist, moderately well-drained to poorly drained organic soils.
Nutritional Requirements:
High; requires rich organic soils for optimal growth.
Salt Water Tolerance:
Low; does not tolerate flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance:
Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance:
Low; requires moist to wet soils and is intolerant of long periods of drought.
Light Requirements:
Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color:
Yellow.
Flower Characteristics:
Showy.
Flowering Season:
Spring-summer.
Fruit:
Brown capsule.
Wildlife and Ecology:
Larval host and nectar source for Brazilian skipper (Calpodes ethlius) butterflies. Attracts bee, bat and hummingbird pollinators. Provides food for birds.
Horticultural Notes:
Can be grown from seed or division.
Comments:
See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's Flower Friday page.


Roger L. Hammer
Shirley Denton
Shirley Denton
Keith A. Bradley