Canna 'Austria'

A medium sized aquatic Italian Group cultivar, equally at home as a water marginal or in the border; green foliage, oblong shaped, upright habit; flowers are cupped, self-coloured yellow, throat red spots on yellow, staminodes are large, edges regular, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured white; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by C. Sprenger, Dammann and Co., Naples, Italy, EU in 1893. Announced along with C. 'Italia', caused much interest as their large flowers were considered to be a major breakthrough. Herr Sprenger crossed C. 'Madame Crozy' with C. flaccida 'Le Roi'. Synonyms: C. 'Austra', C. 'Canary Bird', C. 'Lemon Zest', C. 'Richard Wallace', C. 'Souvenir de Jeanne'

Canna 'Australia'

A tall Italian Group cultivar; bronze foliage, ovoid shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; flowers are open, self-coloured red-orange, staminodes are large, edges frilled, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, average bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is average.

Introduced by C. Sprenger, Dammann and Co., Naples, Italy, EU in 1906.

Canna 'Assaut'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; bronze foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; round stems, coloured purple; spikes of flowers are open, self-coloured scarlet, staminodes are large, fully self-cleaning, average bloomer; seed is fertile, pollen is low fertile, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose. 

Introduced by Vilmorin-Andrieux in 1921. Grown especially for its distinctive bronze foliage at Kew Gardens, where it is usually placed by the doors of the glass houses. 

Synonyms: C. 'Assault', C. 'Hercule', C. 'La Fayette', C. 'Lafayette', C. 'Vainquer', C. 'Vainqueur', C. 'Vorwärts', C. 'Vorwörts'

Canna 'Auguste Ferrier'

A giant Foliage Group cultivar; green and purple variegated foliage, large, oval shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; oval stems, coloured green; flowers are erect, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are long and narrow, edges regular, petals red, fully self-cleaning, low bloomer; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round.

Synonym: C. 'Red Stripe'

Season of mists and mellow fruitfullness

It's meant to be the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. We have often had the first frosts by now in previous years, and are frantically digging up our Cannas to move into the protection of the polytunnels.

But this week, autumn has been transformed into the season of dazzling sunshine and temperatures soaring into the 70s. 

The mini heatwave is set to last until Friday night in what the Met Office describe as an 'official Indian Summer'.

Forecasters predict that temperatures will peak at 70F (21C) in the South-East and Midlands on Thursday, compared to the usual highs of 52F (11C) during the last week of October.

It is excellent news for us as we have started moving the Canna collection indoors at a leisurely pace, with a target of having the whole of the collection moved by the end of the week.

This season we are not attempting to over-winter the species plants. We have decided to grow them next season just from seed, and to grow them indoors, as there is no pleasure from growing them in the current English Midlands climate, where they are deprived of the minimum amount of light they need to flourish.

Canna 'Arthur William Paul'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green and purple variegated foliage, ovoid shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; round stems, coloured purple; flowers are open, orange and orange-red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, petals red with farina, fully self-cleaning, low bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and purple.

Named for a member of the Paul family, part of the nobility of Victorian nurserymen.

Canna 'Arne Dalebö'

A medium sized Italian Group cultivar; green and purple variegated foliage, large, oval-acuminate shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; oval stems, coloured purple; panicles of flowers are open, red-orange streaked with scarlet, throat orange-red, staminodes are large, edges frilled, labellum is orange-red, stamen is orange-red, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, average bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2006. Sport of C. ‘Nero’. Named for Arne Dalebö, who was a member of the Norwegian resistance and in 1940 sailed to the Shetland Isles from Norway in a stolen fishing boat, to escape pursuing German Gestapo, serving for the duration of the war in the RAF 331 (Norwegian) squadron.

Canna 'Argentina'

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; light green foliage, large, oblong shaped, white margin, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are erect, apricot and orange, staminodes are long and narrow, edges regular, fully self-cleaning, low bloomer; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by Ian K. Cooke, Nottingham, England, EU. Grown mainly for its architectural significance and its magnificent foliage. Synonym: C. 'Argentia'

Canna 'Aphrodite' AGM

A medium sized Premier Group cultivar; dark (137A) foliage, oblong shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; round stems, coloured purple; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured salmon, staminodes are large, labellum is pink (51A), stamen is pink, petals red, good bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is average.

Introduced by P. Schmid. Awards: Royal Horticultural Society, England – Canna Trial 2002, AGM after trial at Wisley 2002 submitted by Hart Cannas. A.M.-B.C. 1971

Canna 'Apricot Ice'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oblong shaped, spreading habit; round stems, coloured green; flowers are open, self-coloured apricot, staminodes are medium size, edges regular, stamen is apricot, style is apricot, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not known if true to type, not self-pollinating, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is average. 

Introduced by Kent Kelly, Quality Gladiolus, Arkansas, USA.

Canna 'Apricot Dream'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, ovoid shaped, white margin, spreading habit; round stems, coloured green and purple; panicles of flowers are open, apricot and salmon, staminodes are medium size, edges lightly frilled, stamen is saffron-yellow, petals purple with farina, low bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by Kent Kelly, Quality Gladiolus, Arkansas, USA. An outstanding, modern, self-cleaning cultivar. Hardier than most Cannas and able to tolerate mild winters as well as heat-wave summers.

Aminopyralid Petition

Some of you may still not be aware that it has been proposed to relicense the herbicide "aminopyralid", which has been the cause of most cases of contaminated manure. 

There is a petition to the PM, which closes on the 23rd Oct 2009, to try and prevent this happening at petitions.number10.g...

If you have not signed the petition so far, can I suggest that you take the time to do so now, to prevent others being adversely affected by contaminated manure. Once you have sent off your petition, remember that you should get a confirmation e-mail, in which you have to click on the link, to finally register your petition.
The petition reads:
A hormone weed killer (Aminopyralid) used on grassland was taken up by grazing animals and remained in manure which, when applied to the land, caused the failure of a wide range of crops including beans, peas, potatoes and tomatoes, soft fruits and flowers. 
Aminopyralid attaches itself to organic matter and the length of time it takes to beak down completely is as yet unknown.
The potential for contamination by aminopyralid and clopyralid is causing growers to lose confidence in peat free composts. 
Due to the occurrence of patches of contamination in organic matter it is extremely difficult if not impossible to ensure an uncontaminated end product. 
A receiver of contaminated material is landed with a problem of disposing of toxic waste. 
After widespread protests it was withdrawn in August 2008 but an application has been made for its reinstatement. 
We believe that, even taking into account improved stewardship, the use of this chemical cannot be adequately controlled."

Canna 'Antonin Crozy'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; flowers are open, carmine with a yellow margin, staminodes are medium size, good bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are tuber-like groups, coloured white and pink. 

Introduced by A. Crozy, Lyon, France in 1888. The earliest reference is Garden & Forest, 28 August 1889.

Writing in the Garden & Forest in 1896, Theophilus Hatfield wrote that "Canna 'Souvenir Antonin Crozy' remains the best of all the true Crozy type, and it is doubtful if any of this year's introductions will equal it in beauty."

Synonyms: C. 'Anthony Crozy', C. 'Anthony de Crozy', C. 'Antoine Crozy', C. 'Souvenir de Antoine Crozy'

Canna 'Anthéor'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oblong shaped, spreading habit; round stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are open, cadmium yellow streaked with nasturtium red, staminodes are large, edges irregular, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning, late bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is average. 

Introduced by Vilmorin-Andrieux in 1934. Still grown in the EU.

Canna 'Annei Rubra'

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; deep green and purple variegated foliage, large, acuminate shaped, maroon margin, branching habit; medium thickness round stems, coloured purple; flowers are erect, self-coloured bright orange, staminodes are long and narrow, edges regular; seed is sterile, pollen is fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 7 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is average. 

Introduced by E. Chaté et fils, route de Charenton, 143, Berey, France, EU. in 1861. One of the most free-flowering of the Foliage Group of Cannas. Canna 'Annei' was the pollen parent.

Canna 'Annei Rosea'

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; dark green foliage, very large, lanceolate shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; round stems; spikes of flowers are open, self-coloured carmine-rose, staminodes are narrow, edges irregular, petals red, not self-cleaning, late bloomer, blooms open in the evening; seed is sterile, pollen is fertile; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured pink and purple; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by E. Chaté et fils, route de Charenton, 143, Berey, France, EU.. The flowers are few and late, and this is primarily a foliage plant, averaging leaves about 2 ft. 4 ins long.  The breeding is an unknown seed parent x Canna 'Annei'

Canna 'Annei'

A tall aquatic Foliage Group cultivar, equally at home as a water marginal or in the border; glaucous green foliage, oval-acuminate shaped, upright habit; round stems, coloured green; flowers are erect, self-coloured salmon, staminodes are medium size, edges regular, petals red, late bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is fertile; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by Théodore Année in 1848. It is a very tall foliage plant, growing up to 300cm (9'9"), and topped by interesting small flowers that start in August and continue through to the first frosts. There are few plants with more architectural significance than a well-grown specimen of C. Annei in a prominent position.

The earliest known book on Canna is "Le Canna" by M. Chaté and Sons, 1866, which provides us with the correct spelling of this cultivars name. This is the world's first Canna hybrid, introduced in 1848. Winner of Royal Horticultural Societies 'Award of Garden Merit' (AGM) at the 2002 Wisley outdoor trials, 154 years later.

Synonyms: C. 'glauca var. annaei Petersen', C. 'Omega'

Canna 'Angel Pink'

A medium sized Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oblong shaped, spreading habit; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured apricot, throat yellow, staminodes are large, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is average. 

Introduced by Kent Kelly, Quality Gladiolus, Arkansas, USA.

Canna 'Anette Dalebö'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; round stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are open, saffron-yellow and orange-red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, style is gold, petals red, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is average. 

Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2006. Seedling from C. 'Tangerine' x C. 'Theresa Blakey'.

Canna 'American Flag'

A tall Italian Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; oval stems, coloured purple; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured orange-red, throat yellow, staminodes are large, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured white and pink; tillering is average. 

Introduced by Antoine Wintzer of The Conard & Jones Co., West Grove, PA, USA in 1902.

Canna 'America'

A tall Italian Group cultivar; bronze foliage; oval stems, coloured purple; flowers are open, orient-red (RHS 42A) with salmon spots, throat yellow, staminodes are large, good bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter. Introduced by C. Sprenger, Dammann & Co., Naples, Italy, EU.

Granted the RHS Award of Merit in 1897. Mention must be made of the farina 'sheen' on the stems and leaves. In the same year Professor F. A. Waugh, University of Vermont, wrote that "We have just had this Canna in flower, the third in Dammann's list of so-called "Orchid-flowering" Cannas. It has been something of a surprise to us, for in some way we had formed the notion that it was inferior to Italia and Austria. In our present opinion, however, it ranks above both. The foliage seems to be stronger and tougher, and is of a color much harder to get in Cannas. It is dark bronzy-red, with irregular and inconspicuous dashes of lighter greenish color. The flowering-stem is tall and strong, bearing a large spike of flowers of the form and size of Italia.

They are, however, of a most rare and striking color, a sort of brilliant apricot-red faintly spotted with darker salmon. The centre is canary-yellow, marked with the apricot-red of the body color, very much after the pattern of Austria and Burbank, except that in America the centre is lighter-colored than the wings. The blossoms are richer in appearance than any of the earlier Orchid-flowering Cannas. They do not appear to be better in substance, though; and this seems likely to prevent the general use of all the Canna flacida crosses in outdoor bedding. If it were not for this flabby quality of their blossoms they would soon very largely supersede the French dwarf Cannas for all classes of ornamental work."

This is a cross between the Crozy Group cultivar C. ‘President Carnot’ x C. flaccida ‘Le Roi’ in 1893. 
Canna flaccida 'Le Roi' would appear to be a C. flaccida strain that had settled down to the climate of Naples, rather than the sub-tropical climate of Florida and southern USA. At Claines Canna we are attempting to establish a strain of C. flaccida that can grow happily in our mangled climate. We are not crossing it, just growing on the strongest rhizomes year after year. The crosses between the Crozy Group and C. flaccida are some of the most important ever made and we want to perpetuate these crosses.

Canna 'Amber Cup'

A small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, small, oval shaped, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; flowers are cupped, self-coloured amber, edges regular, good bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white.

After one day it is bleached white, but it is still very appealing because of its pleasant colouring when first open.

Canna 'Ambassadour'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured white, staminodes are medium size, edges lightly frilled, labellum is pale pink markings, stamen is cream with pale pink markings, petals green, fully self-cleaning, low bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is average.

Always has that tightly coiled stamen. Synonym: C. 'Cream'

Canna 'Bevere'

A small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; oval stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are orange with peach stripes, fading to light pink, edges frilled, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is average. 

Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2006. Seedling of C. ‘Topaz’ x self.

Canna 'Ambassador'

A medium sized Italian Group cultivar; dark foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, branching habit; oval stems, coloured purple; panicles of flowers are cupped, self-coloured scarlet, staminodes are large, edges lightly frilled, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is sterile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is average.

Probably a mutation of the old chimera, C. 'Yellow King Humbert'. Synonyms: C. 'Ambassadeur', C. 'Ambassador Red', C. 'The Amabassador'

Canna 'Amazement'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, ovoid shaped, branching habit; spikes of flowers are cupped, self-coloured cadmium-orange, staminodes are medium size, edges serrated, petals red, fully self-cleaning, outstanding bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is prolific. 
Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2008. The breeding is C. 'Admiral Aurellan' x C. 'Ombersley'

Canna 'Alt Württemberg'

A tall Premier Group cultivar; dark foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, arching habit; oval stems, coloured purple; flowers are open, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are large, edges regular, petals red with farina, fully self-cleaning, exceptional bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is slow. 

Introduced by W. Pfitzer, Stadt Felbach, Stuttgart, Germany, EU in 1949. Synonym: C. 'Alt Würtemberg'

Canna 'Alsace'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; round stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are open, cream with rose spots, staminodes are medium size, partial self-cleaning, late bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is slow.

The illustration is taken from the 1899 catalogue of Messrs. G. Drobish of Ohio. First reference is an advert in Garden & Forest, 1896 by A. Blanc & Co, 314 & 316 11th Street, Philadelphia, PA, USA. Still being grown in Austral-Asia. Featured in the 1908 Outdoor Canna Trials at Wisley, England, EU.

Canna 'Alphonse Bouvier'

A tall Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, branching habit; flowers are self-coloured crimson, throat yellow, outstanding bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is average. 

Introduced by A. Crozy, Lyon, France in 1891. Received the RHS Award of Merit in 1892, when it was submitted by Messrs G. Paul. Although 2009 has been the worst year for Canna that we have ever experienced, through it all this one shone like a true star.

Canna 'Almenrausch'

A medium sized Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured carmine, staminodes are large, edges irregular, low bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose. 

Introduced by P. Schmid. The name means 'Intoxicating to Everyone'.

Canna 'Allemania'

A medium sized aquatic Italian Group cultivar, equally at home as a water marginal or in the border; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; round stems, coloured green + purple; panicles of flowers are open, salmon-red with a gold margin, throat gold, staminodes are large, edges irregular, labellum is salmon-red, petals purple, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured white and purple; tillering is prolific. 

Introduced by C. Sprenger, Dammann & Co., Naples, Italy, EU in 1897. Still being sold in the USA in 1950, the Inter-State Nurseries Catalogue of that year offers it for sale. Still available in the EU. Introduced in 1897, earning an immediate Award of Merit from the Royal Horticultural Society. Also featured in the 1908 RHS outdoor trials at Wisley, England, EU. Synonyms: C. 'Alemannia', C. 'Cattleya'