page_title: Canna (plant)
section_title: Uses
hierarchical_section_title: Canna (plant) / Uses
caption_attribution_description: Canna indica English: Self made image composed of two self-made photographs, by Robert Uyeyama
context_page_description: Canna or canna lily is the only genus of flowering plants in the family Cannaceae, consisting of 10 species. Cannas are not true lilies, but have been assigned by the APG II system of 2003 to the order Zingiberales in the monocot clade Commelinids, together with their closest relatives, the gingers, spiral gingers, bananas, arrowroots, heliconias and birds of paradise.
  The plants have large foliage and horticulturists have developed selected forms as large-flowered garden plants. Cannas are also used in agriculture as a rich source of starch for human and animal consumption.
  Although plants of the tropics, most cultivars have been developed in temperate climates and are easy to grow in most countries of the world as long as they receive at least 6–8 hours average sunlight during the summer, and are moved to a warm location for the winter. See the Canna cultivar gallery for photographs of Canna cultivars.
  The name Canna originates from the Latin word for a 'cane' or 'reed'.
context_section_description: Some species and many cultivars are widely grown in the garden in temperate and subtropical regions. Sometimes, they are also grown as potted plants. A large number of ornamental cultivars have been developed. They can be used in herbaceous borders, tropical plantings, and as a patio or decking plant.
  Internationally, cannas are one of the most popular garden plants and a large horticultural industry depends on the plant.
  The rhizomes of cannas are rich in starch, and it has many uses in agriculture. All of the plant has commercial value, rhizomes for starch (consumption by humans and livestock), stems and foliage for animal fodder, young shoots as a vegetable, and young seeds as an addition to tortillas.
  The seeds are used as beads in jewelry.
  The seeds are used as the mobile elements of the kayamb, a musical instrument from Réunion, as well as the hosho, a gourd rattle from Zimbabwe, where the seeds are known as hota seeds.
  In more remote regions of India, cannas are fermented to produce alcohol.
  The plant yields a fibre from the stem, which is used as a jute substitute.
  A fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making paper. The leaves are harvested in late summer after the plant has flowered, they are scraped to remove the outer skin, and are then soaked in water for two hours prior to cooking. The fibres are cooked for 24 hours with lye and then beaten in a blender. They make a light tan brown paper.
  A purple dye is obtained from the seed.
  Smoke from the burning leaves is said to be insecticidal.
  Cannas are used to extract many undesirable pollutants in a wetland environment as they have a high tolerance to contaminants.
  In Thailand, cannas are a traditional gift for Father's Day.
  In Vietnam, canna starch is used to make cellophane noodles known as miến dong.
  Cannas attract hummingbirds and so can be part of a pollinator and wildlife habitat strategy.
caption: Detail of the seed pods and seeds: The seeds are used for jewelry and musical instruments.
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