The burgundy stripes evolve to red, pink, yellow, gold and, finally, deep green, while the center vein remains chartreuse. The result is a plant that produces leaves of many colors. Canna Tropicanna is being introduced by Australian nurseryman Anthony Tesselaar, who also developed the much-touted Flower Carpet Roses. Because root stock for the new canna has been difficult and expensive for commercial growers to get, it's doubtful many retail garden centers will have the plant for sale this year. Cannas will survive most winters in temperate zones, but exceptionally cold and dry weather can kill them.
Cannas love moisture so much they can be potted and placed in pools of water.
They prefer full sun and regular feeding during their bloom cycle, which is almost all summer. Because of their height and bold, some would say coarse, appearance, they are best planted in the back of mixed flower beds. In commercial plantings, they are often in the center of a ring of low-growing annuals. In addition to the typical orange flowers, cannas are available in pinks, yellows and reds. All have big, tropical-looking leaves that can be solid green or striped with numerous patterns of variegation.