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Edible Canna

4.3 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Large, lush leaves

Easy to propagate

Also known as

Canna Lily, Canna Lily, Indian Shot, African arrowroot, Edible canna, Purple arrowroot, Sierra leone arrowroot, Achira, Cana-da-índia, Canna Lilly Red Velvet and Canna 'Musifolia'

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Canna indica

Genus

Canna

Family

Cannaceae

Order

Zingiberales

How to care for Edible Canna

💦 Water

How often to water your Edible Canna

Edible Canna needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Canna Lily in your home

Edible Canna love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Edible Canna does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Edible Canna in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Edible Canna

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Edible Canna: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Edible Canna after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #Canna

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Edible Canna is generally easy to care for, though some plant parents report facing challenges with growing it. Check out the reviews down below to read more about their experiences!

How to Grow Canna Lily →

Benefits of Growing Canna Lily →

Common Canna Lily Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Canna Lily →

💦 Water Needs

Edible Canna prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Canna Lily Water Frequency →

Canna Lily Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Edible Canna requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Canna Lily Light Requirements →

Canna Lily Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Edible Canna is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Canna Lily Edible? →

Canna Lily Toxicity to Cats →

Canna Lily Toxicity to Dogs →

Canna Lily Toxicity to Humans →

💨 Humidity

Edible Canna doesn’t require additional humidity. Plants absorb most water through their root system rather than their leaves, so the best way to provide humidity for your plants is through watering the soil.

Canna Lily Humidity Needs →

🪴 Soil

Edible Canna does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Canna Lily →

Best Pots for Canna Lily →

When and How to Successfully Repot Canna Lily →

What Are Healthy Canna Lily Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Edible Canna is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Canna Lily →

🌎 Native Region

Edible Canna is native to Southern United States to South America.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Edible Canna is a clumping plant, meaning new growth will emerge from the soil around the parent plant.

Canna Lily Lifecycle →

Canna Lily Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Canna Lily →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Edible Canna can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 8a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Canna Lily Temperature Tolerance →

Canna Lily Hardiness Zones →

Landscaping Ideas with Canna Lily →

When to Plant Canna Lily →

How to Plant Canna Lily →

Where to Plant Canna Lily →

Winter Care for Canna Lily →

Best Companion Plants for Canna Lily →

Is Canna Lily a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

Edible Canna can be propagated by division into new individual plants.

Check to see if there is more than one plant. In some cases they may still be beneath the soil surface. If you feel confident, you may remove the soil to check for baby plantlets below!
If there are multiple plants growing, unpot the plant and gently tug the plants apart, being careful not to disturb too many of the roots. They may be connected by large root segments which you may need to break to free the plantlet.
Pot up the new plant in well-draining soil
Repot the parent plant back into its original pot

How to Propagate Canna Lily →

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Edible Canna, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.