New Canna Australian Group

Bernard Yorke, of Australia, has confirmed that after contemplating many names for the new Canna cultivar group he has created, he has settled for the name Australian Group.

The members of this new cultivar group are instantly recognisable for their very large foliage, inherited from the Foliage Group that provided the seed parent, and the large flowers, inherited from the Italian Group that provided the pollen. The actual cross was C. 'Red Stripe' x C. 'Bengal Tiger'.

Members of this new Canna Group were entered into the 2008 International Canna Trial and received praise from visitors.

Link to Cannas by Bernard Yorke

Visit to the Canna Trials

It has been a hard year, the weather has not helped us at all, every task taking much longer than normal. It took Margaret and I up to this weekend to visit the Canna Trials ourselves. We had entered 12 of our recent cultivars for examination. The trials are being conducted at the home premises of the National Collection holders, Christine and Keith Hayward at Farnborough, Hampshire, in England.

We had good weather and no rain interrupted what turned out to be a very pleasant day out. Not many of the Trials Cannas were in bloom, but I was particularly impressed with C. 'Leopardeau' and C. 'Bird of Paradise'. Two totally different Canna types, but both new varieties deserving of praise.

C. 'Léopardeau', raised by Raphaël Roger in Belgium, is a very sophisticated, modern Premier Group, small cultivar with unique markings on the flowers, reminiscent of the spotting on young leopards, hence its name! [Click on any of the photos for larger images]

This is an exciting, new type of marking that has a great potential with other colour combinations if we can exploit its potential. In my opinion, Monsieur Roger deserves a round of applause for his efforts.

C. 'Bird of Paradise' is a large Foliage Group cultivar,with lance-shaped nicely marked foliage and a delightful small flower. Of course this is grown for its foliage primarily, but the smaller, minimalist flowers are pleasing in their own right, being only marginally smaller than the early Crozy Group.

Congratulations are due to Brian Williams for raising this beauty. It proves that the architectural Foliage Group are just as important to us, going forward, as the cultivars developed for the Garden Centre bench.

Others that were in flower when we visited were C. 'Eden', C. 'Honeybunch', C. 'Panama', and C. 'Sadd 2.05'. They all impressed as quality plants that could be grown for commercial sale with reliable results. Remember that they are mainly without virus infection!

We saw all of the other trial entries without flowers, and we saw much good, strong foliage. It left us wishing that we had been able to attend the trial earlier, and enjoy what the other entries had to offer.

The trial has received about 150 visitors and received many complimentary comments, in spite of the extremely poor weather conditions experienced this year which obviously affected the number of flowers and foliage, and possibly the number of visitors as well.

Raphaël Roger web site
Brian Williams web site

Canna Trials entries closing

With only two days to go before the entries close for the 2008 International Canna Trials, we would urge anyone interested in entering new varieties to speak to the organizers quickly. We had set a target of 50 new varieties for the Trials, and it looks as though that has been achieved, but more are always welcome.

Well done to all entrants, we hope to see you all at the trials this year,

The next significant date is 1st June, when the growing plants will be planted out into carefully cultivated beds, starting the grand spectacle that only Cannas can produce. In the meantime, photographs will be posted showing the progress of the trial entries.

http://www.canna-trial-international.com

International Canna Trials 2008

Canna 'Leopardeau'

Just a quick reminder to those wanting to get involved in this new, fun event. There are only twelve days left to go, so let the organizers know what it is you are entering and think about getting the rhizomes to them before the end of the month.

Canna 'Mazurka'

The whole trial looks like being a fun-experience, with people from all continents threatening to visit! For those living in Europe, a visit in late August or early September will be a great experience.

The trial cultivars are being displayed alongside the UK National Collection, so you can see 200+ original Cannas in full-flight alongside each other. See you at the trials this summer?

The images above are just a few of the excellent entries to the trial. Visit the web site and see for yourself the high-class entries attracted to the trial.

Visit the Trial Web Site

Introducing Canna 'Espresso Festival'

A medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; green and purple variegated foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured purple; panicles of flowers are open, self-coloured pink, staminodes are medium size, edges regular, petals red with farina, 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 purple; tillering is prolific.

Introduced by Far East Plants, Philippines. 

Far East Plants

Canna Trial progress

The Canna Trial for 2008 is taking shape. The trial entries are exceeding expectations, and the web site is now almost complete.

The site includes a Journal, to allow recording of the Trials progress, and allowing registered users to vote on the cultivar photographs, send E-Cards of the photos, and to enter their own comments against each photograph.


A Feedback feature allows registered users to enter into discussion about events and issues concerning the trial.

In addition, there is a forum devoted to the subject of Canna cultivar groups, and it is the organisers ambition to have a formal definition of the Canna Cultivar groups agreed by the end of 2008.

Click here to visit the 2008 Canna Trial website

Canna Trial web site opens

Keith Hayward of Hart Canna and Malcolm Dalebö of Claines Canna are pleased to announce the web site for the 2008 International Canna Trials has now opened at http://www.canna-trial-international.com/. Trial entries are now being received.

Entries are invited from both professional and amateur Canna breeders, collectors, growers and gardening enthusiasts alike, from all countries of the world. The trial is for new Canna cultivars, meaning those introduced in the last ten years or so. Submitters to the trial do not have to be the introducer of the cultivar, so those that are growing something new and special can enter it in the trial and share it with the rest of the world.

It is anticipated that horticulture trade growers will be visiting the trial, to take an opportunity to see for themselves this rare exposition of the best new Canna cultivars the world has to offer. Breeders can take the opportunity to present their new varieties to potential new markets.

The International Canna Trials in England during summer and early autumn are a must for all Canna enthusiasts and keen gardeners. Visitors will be welcomed by appointment, and we are all looking forward to meeting many old and new Canna friends in person from all over the globe.

England has much to offer as a tourist destination, and the trial is being held within easy travelling distance from London, so a visit can be included as part of a vacation agenda. So now, gardening enthusiasts who have been talking about a trip to England have the perfect excuse. England can also offer the world famous Kew Gardens and the Royal Horticultural Societies gardens at Wisley. The parks in London are a gardeners joy, and those willing to travel outside London will be amazed at what gardening treasure are available.

See you at the Canna trials…

Web sites:
Canna Trials
Hart Canna
Claines Canna