Introducing Canna 'Theresa Blakey'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; bronze foliage, ovoid shaped, spreading habit; flowers are open, apricot (RHS 33B) with a salmon (RHS 29A) blush, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, stamen is marked with gold; fertile both ways, not known if true to type, not self-pollinating, capsules round; 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 2005.

Nothing can replace the real Theresa Blakey, but this is a fitting tribute to a special person.

The breeding is C. 'Louis Cottin' x C. 'Jessie Dalebö

Introducing Canna 'Jessie Dalebö'

A small Crozy Group cultivar; bronze foliage, oval shaped, upright habit; round stems, coloured purple with white farina; spikes of flowers are open, self-coloured red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, labellum is occasionally marked with saffron-yellow, 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.

Introduced by Malcolm Dalebö, Claines Canna Collection, Worcester, England, EU in 2003. The breeding is C. 'Red Futurity' x open pollination. Flowers continuously in the UK from late June until the first frosts.

Malcolm states, "I think that this is one of the finest black foliage Cannas, and I would place it alongside C. 'La France' and C. Australia'."