Australia Bulb

How We Ship Cannas

Free shipping on all orders of $100 or more! Please place bulb and plant orders separately if they are shipping on different dates.

There is a $12 flat rate shipping charge for all orders less than $100.

Shipments are sent via USPS and UPS Ground. Our shipping season for rhizomes (bulbs) is February 15th to June 30th each year, based on availability. Our shipping season for live plants is May 1st to July 31st each year. Please select your preferred ship date from the drop-down box during the checkout process. We ship the majority of orders, especially during cold weather, on Mondays. This guarantees your cannas to arrive on or before Friday and not sit on a shipping dock over the weekend. We begin to ship daily when the weather warms in March. Please order early to assure availability.

Please contact us by email or phone for orders shipping to Hawaii, Alaska and Puerto Rico. Shipping charges differ for these locations.

 

How We Package Cannas

All of our cannas are quality checked and then packaged by hand specifically for your order.

We select large, three to five eye rhizomes that are packed fresh with peat moss for bulb orders. As the spring temperatures warm during the shipping season, many varieties will have eyes begin to grow. We leave the eyes intact for shipping. This gives you a jump start on the growing season!

Our live plants are shipped in 4x4x5 inch (1.2 quart) containers.

Planting

Cannas may be planted in the spring after danger from frost. Best results are achieved when planted in a loose, fertile and well-draining soil that has warmed to at least 60 degrees. Here in zone 7 we recommend planting from late March to late April. Adjust this guideline to your zone. Before spring planting, soil can be amended with compost, manure and a high nitrogen fertilizer. Cannas will tolerate a wide range of growing conditions. Cannas love sun and require a minimum of four hours of direct sunlight.

Plant rhizomes 12 to 18 inches apart. Lay the long part of the rhizome horizontal to the earth’s surface with eye up, if visible. This is not critical, as cannas will grow no matter which direction they are planted. Cannas are best planted in shallow, warm ground covered with just about two inches of soil.

In colder regions, (6-8 weeks before spring), bulbs can be planted in pots and placed in greenhouse conditions. When danger of frost is past, remove from pot and plant outside. Cultivate often to keep soil loose and free of weeds.

 

Watering & Fertilization

Cannas should be watered thoroughly once a week by slowly soaking the area around roots. Cannas are heavy feeders. For optimum performance apply a high nitrogen, foliar fertilizer twice a month. Organic matter turned into the soil, such as composted manure, will provide a great benefit as well. Although cannas will continue to bloom if not dead-headed, cutting old spent flowers and seed pods will make them prettier and neater in the garden.

Insects rarely bother cannas. Leaf-feeding insects and leaf-rolling caterpillars can be stopped by regular applications of systemic insecticide products such as Ortho Systemic Insect Killer.

 

Overwintering:

Cannas will multiply by producing 3 to 5 new rhizomes for each one planted. Dig clumps of bulbs in the late fall or after the first frost for re-planting the following spring.

The most common mistake is allowing the canna rhizomes to dry out too much while in storage.

Two methods of storage are:

1. 1. Remove old stalks, leave bulbs in clump with soil intact. Pile clumps and cover with plastic and store in basement, cellar, cool corner of a garage, crawl space, etc. Never store in mesh bags that will allow rhizomes to become too dry.
2. 2. Rhizomes can be washed, divided, and layered with peat moss in cardboard boxes with lids or in plastic bags. A few air holes around the sides with help give a small amount of needed air flow. Store in basement or another cool place such as a cool corner of a garage, under the house, cellar, etc.

Rhizomes must not be allowed to freeze during storage. The ideal storage temperature is 50 degrees.

IN SOUTHERN STATES (zone 7-10) where the ground doesn't freeze below four to six inches, cannas can be left in the ground all winter. Cut foliage down to the ground and if needed, cover flowerbed with six to twelve inches of grass clippings, leaves, compost, hay straw, etc. Cannas can be thinned in the spring every two to three years by digging out thick areas of bulbs to allow spacing between the plants.