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Canna lily
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Canna lily

Canna indica

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
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Basic Details

NameCanna lily
DescriptionBold tropical perennial featuring large, paddle-shaped leaves reminiscent of bananas and showy iris-like flowers in vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, pink, or bicolors. Despite the common name, not a true lily but valued for dramatic foliage (green, bronze, purple, or variegated) and continuous summer blooms. Rhizomes produce edible starch (arrowroot) and the fast-growing plants create instant tropical impact in gardens, containers, and water features.
FamilyCannaceae
GenusCanna

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr % ⚥ K3 C3 A1 G(3)

Ebracteate (no bracts), bilaterally symmetrical (zygomorphic), bisexual, 3 free sepals, 3 free petals, 1 functional stamen (others modified into petal-like staminodes), 3 fused carpels with inferior ovary. Highly modified flower structure unique to Cannaceae

Features
  • Name 'Canna' from Latin meaning 'reed' or 'cane' referring to hollow stems. 'Indian Shot' describes hard, round, black seeds historically used as shot for guns and beads for rosaries. Not related to true lilies despite common name
  • Flowers 4-5 inches (10-12 cm) across with asymmetrical, iris-like form. Three sepals, three petals, and petal-like staminodes (modified stamens) create showy display. Colors include red, orange, yellow, pink, cream, and bicolors. Only one functional stamen
  • Herbaceous rhizomatous perennial that blooms continuously from late spring through first frost (May-October). Grown as annual in cold climates, perennial in zones 7-11. Dies back to ground in winter, re-emerges from rhizomes in spring
  • Grows 1.5-8 feet (0.5-2.5 m) tall depending on variety (dwarf types 1.5-3 feet, standard 4-6 feet, tall 6-8 feet). Lifespan of many years from rhizomes. Fast-growing, reaching full size in one season. Propagated by dividing rhizomes in spring
  • Native to tropical and subtropical Americas from southern United States through Central America, Caribbean, and South America to northern Argentina. C. indica from West Indies. Now naturalized in tropical regions worldwide including Africa, Asia, and Australia
  • Requires full sun with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight for best flowering (tolerates partial shade with reduced blooms). Thrives in heat and humidity. Needs consistently moist, rich soil. Can grow in shallow water (bog or pond margins). Frost tender (rhizomes hardy to zone 7 with mulch)
  • Excellent for tropical-style gardens, mixed borders, containers, and water gardens. Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies. Rhizomes produce edible starch (Queensland arrowroot) used like tapioca. Young leaves and shoots edible when cooked. Deer resistant. Can spread aggressively in warm climates

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificCanna indica
English (Alternate)Canna, Indian shot, African arrowroot, Edible canna, Purple arrowroot, Sierra Leone arrowroot
Hindiकेली (Keli), सर्वज्जय(Sarvajjaya)
Tamilமணிவாழை (Mani Vazhai), கல்வாழை(கல்வாழை)
Teluguక్రిష్ణా తామర (Krishna Thamara), కందమణి వాలై (Kandamani Valai)
Malayalamതോട്ടവാഴ (Thottavaazha), കന്നാ (Kanna)
Kannadaಕಲಹು (Kalahu)
Sanskritभङ्ग(bhanga), सर्वज्जय(sarvajjaya)
Bengaliকলাবতী (Kolaboti), সর্বরজয়া (Sarbajaya), কেলি (Keli)
FrenchCanna
Russianканна (kanna)
Spanishachira, caña india, lirio canna
GermanCanna , Cannas

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.