Plant Canna Elite™ 'Orange Chocolate' Canna Lily in spring, and in summer, this dwarf canna lily produces masses of broad, fleshy, variegated olive green to purple bronze leaves topped with open-faced bright orange flowers. Borne atop long, strong, sturdy stems the prolific flower spikes bloom from midsummer to fall, beckoning to butterflies and hummingbirds.
A Canna hybrid, commonly called canna lily or Indian shot, Elite 'Orange Chocolate' is an exotic herbaceous tender perennial that spreads by rhizomes and has an upright, very compact, clumping habit. Heat- and humidity-loving, cannas mingle well with other annuals and perennials, especially those that share the canna lily's tropical temperament. They grow well in boggy areas and around water features. Grouped or massed, cannas create a theatrical backdrop for shorter plants in beds and borders, but they also make a spectacular screen in mild climates and an especially nice "thriller" (focal point) in a container garden.
A tough, low-maintenance plant, canna lilies grow best in sunny locations with organically rich, moist, well-draining soil; but they tolerate partial shade and most soils, including poorly drained soils. Cannas tend to be thirsty and hungry, so keep the plant well watered and well fed with plenty of compost or organic fertilizer. Deadheading the entire stalk encourages blooming. 'Orange Chocolate' Canna Lily is disease resistant.
In regions with mild winters (Zones 8-11), the plant can be cut back to soil level and left in the ground or in pots over winter. In regions with severe winters (Zones 3-6), the plant can be cut to about 4 inches after the first frost in late autumn, the rhizome clump dug up, dried a few days, and stored in a cool, dry place. In spring, divide the rhizome shoots, and replant after the threat of frost has passed when soil temperature is a minimum of 60°F.
