Canna 'Puppet'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; dark foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; panicles of flowers are open, orange rayed with red, staminodes are narrow, edges irregular, stamen is orange with red stripes, petals purple, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is average.

Looking at this cultivar, it is hard to believe that it is a recent introduction, and I believe that it is a heritage cultivar from the 1890's when this size flower was considered to be large (which it was when compared with the small species size flowers). Does anybody have any information or ideas?

Canna 'Puck'

A small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; spikes of flowers are open, pale yellow with pale-purple spots, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, 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 W. Pfitzer, Stadt Felbach, Stuttgart, Germany, EU in 1950. Synonym: C. 'Jasmine'

Canna 'Pringle bay'

A small Italian Group cultivar; variegated foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured pink, staminodes are large, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not known if true to type, not self-pollinating; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple.

A true dwarf canna, with attractive, delicate, pale pink flowers. However, its main attraction is the bright variegated foliage, green, bronze and pink.

Terence Bloch reputedly introduced it from South Africa and named it 'Pringle Bay', after where it originated from in that country. Somewhat mysteriously, the name 'Pink Sunburst' now seems to be the preferred name, but the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants stipulates that this is simply a synonym of the original name.

Synonyms: C. 'African Sunset', C. 'Pink Sunburst', C. 'Technicolor'

Canna 'Princess Di'

A small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; round stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are open, cream with a pink blush, throat pale yellow markings, staminodes are long and narrow, edges lightly frilled, stamen is pale yellow marks, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is prolific.

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

Hot summer to continue

Britain's long hot summer is set to carry on. There is no sign of downpours on the horizon, and it will stay mainly dry right the way through to autumn, experts said last night.

They forecast some sun for all parts of the UK this week – great news for families starting their summer holidays and for beachgoers.

Temperatures will reach 26C in parts of the South-east by mid-week, and the low 20s everywhere else, according to the Met Office. Long-range forecasts predict just six or seven days of rain for the entire month of August.

The difference in our Cannas this year is a joy to behold. We see only healthy, shining foliage and flowers that have the strength to open and show-off. This is how it used to be before we had that long series of poor summers.

Canna 'Preference'

A medium sized Foliage Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, transparent margin, upright habit; triangular stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are erect, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, labellum is orange-red, petals purple with farina, 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 white and purple; tillering is prolific.
Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2006. The flower has an orchid-like shape, with a curled lip and is like a very large species-type flower. A hand-pollination of Canna 'Oiseau de Feu' x C. 'Falstaff'.

Canna 'Powick'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval-acuminate shaped, transparent margin, branching habit; oval stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are reflexed, cardinal-red with a gold margin, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, labellum is gold with a wide cardinal-red margin, stamen is gold with cardinal-red spots, 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. The breeding is Canna 'Karla Dalebö' x open

Canna 'Pixie'

A medium sized Foliage Group cultivar; light green foliage, ovoid shaped, white margin, upright habit; round stems, coloured green; flowers are erect, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are long and narrow, edges regular, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, self-pollinating and also true to type; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white.

Canna 'Pink Silk'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; dark green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; panicles of flowers are reflexed, self-coloured pink, staminodes are medium size, edges regular, stamen is pink streaked with gold, good bloomer, blooms open in the evening; 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 slow.


It origins are in India, probably from the Agri Horticultural Society of India during the period that Sydney Percy-Lancaster was its secretary.

Canna 'Pink Sensation'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, white margin, arching habit; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured pink, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, 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 and pink; tillering is average.

Canna 'Pink Lemonade'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; flowers are open, ivory heavily spotted with rose-red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, stamen is yellow, style is yellow, 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 and pink; tillering is average.

Introduced by Karen Burch, USA.

Canna 'Picasso'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, white margin, spreading habit; spikes of flowers are open, yellow heavily spotted with red, staminodes are large, edges lightly frilled, 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 and purple; tillering is average.

Awards: AGM after trial at RHS Wisley 2002 , entered by Hart Cannas. Yellow with red spots, but not what everybody calls ‘Picasso’. In addition, there is no clear history for this cultivar, as we do not know either when it was introduced or who introduced it. Maybe it is just a synonym for the oldie C. 'Gladiator', which vanished out of circulation about the time that C. 'Picasso' began to appear in catalogues. I have no evidence for such an assertion, but it is an interesting theory.

Canna 'Phœbe'

A tall Italian Group cultivar; dark green foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; oval stems, coloured purple; flowers are open, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are large, edges lightly frilled, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, late 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 & Co., Naples, Italy, EU. Synonym: C. 'Fire Red'

Canna 'Phasion'

A medium sized Italian Group cultivar; green, bronze and pink variegated foliage, ovoid shaped, branching habit; oval stems, coloured red; panicles of flowers are open, tangerine-orange and burnt-red, staminodes are large, edges frilled, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, blooms open in the early morning; seed is sterile, pollen is sterile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and purple; tillering is average.
Awards: Royal Horticultural Society, England – Canna Trial 2002, granted Award of Garden Merit (AGM).
Synonyms: C. 'Andaloucia'', C. 'Durban [Europe]', C. 'Franciscus', C. 'Gold Ader', C. 'Inferno', C. 'Tiger Stripe', C. 'Tropicana', C. 'Tropicanna', C. 'Tropicanna'™

Canna 'Petit Poucet'

A miniature Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; spikes of flowers are open, yellow speckled with red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, petals green, 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 slow.

We have no information on the background of this little delicacy, and any assistance towards it's history would be appreciated.

Canna 'Perkeo'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; panicles of flowers are open, cerise-pink with a narrow yellow margin, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, 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 and pink; tillering is average.

Introduced by W. Pfitzer, Stadt Fellbach, Stuttgart, Germany, EU in 1949.

Synonyms: C. 'Evening Star', C. 'Fata Morgana', C. 'Fatamorgana', C. 'Francis Berti'

Canna 'Percy Lancaster'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, white margin, branching habit; round stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are open, yellow heavily spotted with red, staminodes are large, edges ruffled, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules round.

Introduced by S. Percy-Lancaster, Alipore Cannas, Calcutta, India. In the collection of the Royal Agri-Horticultural Society , Alipore, Calcutta, India. Dr. Khoshoo & Dr. I. Guha: Evolution of Cultivated Canna, 1966. Named by the breeder for his father, Mr Percy Lancaster who founded the Alipore Canna Collection in the early 1890's.

Synonym: C. 'Journey's End'

Canna 'Peach Surprise'

A miniature Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; oval stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are cupped, cream with a wide pale pink margin, throat cream, staminodes are medium size, edges ruffled, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type; 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 2002.

Canna patens (Roscoe) Tb. Tanaka

A medium sized wild species; green foliage, very small, ovoid shaped, arching habit; triangular stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are erect, yellow with a wide red margin, staminodes are long and narrow, edges regular, petals yellow, partial self-cleaning; fertile both ways, self-pollinating and also true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is prolific.


Introduced by Aiton, and confirmed by Roscoe. Native of Mexico, thought by Professor Maas to be a synonym of C. indica L. but Dr Tanaka has categorised this as a separate species, confirmed by DNA sample.
Synonyms: C. aura-vittata Lodd., C. humilis Bouché, C. indica L. var. limbata, C. indica patens, C. indica var. limbata Peters., C. indica var. patens Aiton, C. limbata Roscoe, C. 'Little Dragon', C. longifolia Bouché, C. montana Blume, C. recurvata Bouché

Canna 'Passionata'

A medium sized Foliage Group cultivar; green and purple variegated foliage, lanceolate shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; oval stems, coloured purple; spikes of flowers are open, apricot and salmon, staminodes are narrow, edges irregular, petals purple, partial self-cleaning, good bloomer, blooms open in the evening; 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 Ian Cooke, UK

Canna 'Party Time'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, ovoid shaped, branching habit; flowers are open, gold heavily spotted with orient-red, staminodes are large, edges irregular, style is orient-red, 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 and purple; tillering is average. 
Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2007. Breeding is Canna 'Eureka' x C. 'R. Wallace'.

Canna 'Party Piece'

Canna 'Party Piece' is a small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, ovoid shaped, spreading habit; spikes of flowers are open, yellow-orange with a narrow gold margin, staminodes are large, 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 white and pink; tillering is prolific.

Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2008. The breeding is Canna 'Louis Cottin' x open. Once again, Louis Cottin has proved to be a great seed parent.

Canna 'Partenope'

A medium sized Italian Group cultivar; green foliage, large, ovoid shaped, maroon margin, upright habit; triangular stems, coloured green + purple; panicles of flowers are open, red-orange and burnt-red, throat orange-yellow with red-orange spots, staminodes are large, edges frilled, petals purple, fully self-cleaning; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and purple; tillering is prolific.
Introduced by C. Sprenger, Dammann & Co., Naples, Italy, EU in 1897. Synonyms: C. 'Orange Beauty', C. 'Parthenope'

Canna 'Panache Rouge'

A tall Italian Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; oval stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are cupped, self-coloured orient-red, throat a few yellow markings, staminodes are large, edges irregular, petals red; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is prolific.
Introduced by Vilmorin-Andrieux in 1922.

Canna 'Ouse'

A medium sized aquatic cultivar, equally at home as a water marginal or in the border; green foliage, lanceolate shaped, transparent margin, upright habit; flowers are open, self-coloured canary-yellow, throat old-rose, staminodes are long and narrow, edges irregular, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning, average bloomer; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured white and pink; tillering is slow. The curled lip is a quaint feature of this cultivar, and it stands out well against the pink in the throat of all of the staminodes.


Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2007. The Claines Canna Aquatics have been bred to populate garden ponds that are just a few metres square, compared with the much larger Longwood Aquatics destined for huge ponds and lakes.
The breeding is C. 'Endeavour' x C. 'Wye'

Canna 'Panache'

A medium sized aquatic cultivar, equally at home as a water marginal or in the border; glaucous green foliage, lanceolate shaped, upright habit; spikes of flowers are open, apricot and pink, staminodes are narrow, edges regular, petals red, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules globose; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured white and pink; tillering is slow.

Introduced by Herb Kelly, USA. Synonym: C. 'Highwie'

Canna 'Pallag Szépe'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oblong shaped, upright habit; spikes of flowers are open, pink with a narrow light orange margin, throat light orange, staminodes are large, edges lightly frilled, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is slow.

Raised in Hungary in 1966. The name translates to 'Beauty of Pallag'

A drought on its way?

Desparate water-saving measures, on a level not seen since the 1976 drought, may be introduced as forecasters predict the lowest rainfall in 80 years.

The first six months of this year have been the driest since 1929 and experts warn next month will also see rainfall 25 per cent below average, forcing families to ration their water.

Even October and December are due to be dry, which is expected to cause problems in Yorkshire, East Anglia and Plymouth.

Weather expert Jonathan Powell said the North-west was already having trouble with reservoir levels – like the one at Haweswater, Cumbria, above.

He added: “Our long-range computer programme shows a distinct possibility that this year will be the driest on record."

“There could be widespread drought orders and hosepipe bans, with measures used in 1976 repeated, such as people encouraged to share bath water and to not flush the toilet unless they really need to. The worst-case scenario would be standpipes in the street.”

Canna 'Ombersley'

A small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, branching habit; triangular stems, coloured green + purple; panicles of flowers are cupped, orange tinged with red, staminodes are medium size, edges frilled, petals red with farina; 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 Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2006.
Fades to interesting pale shades, never quite the same twice!

Canna 'Oberon'

A Miniature Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, branching habit; oval stems, coloured green; spikes of flowers are cupped, self-coloured light orange, staminodes are medium size, labellum is yellow with orange markings, stamen is gold, style is tangerine-orange, petals red with farina, 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 and pink; tillering is average.
Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2006.

Canna 'New Sensation'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, ovoid shaped, spreading habit; triangular stems, coloured green; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured burnt-red, staminodes are large, edges lightly frilled, labellum is burnt-red speckled with gold, stamen is burnt-red rayed with gold, petals purple, 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 purple.

Introduced by Marcelle Sheppard, Texas, USA in 1987. Grown out from seed purchased from Parkes as ‘Opera Seeds’.

Marcelles Crinums