Posted by Stosh Lancaster PA z6b on 10/31/2009, 5:30 pm
70.15.103.185

I have both Banana Canna and Canna Red Stripe. These are both capable of getting to 9 or 10 feet to the tops of the blooms, and they get there pretty quickly too. I would have to say that Red Stripe is the winner though. What's really amazing to me is the amount the tubers grow in a season. I was digging some up the last few days and here is just one of many. I actually broke a few pieces off this one trying to get the whole thing out. It's near 2' long! Does anyone grow any other cannas that are similar or possibly bigger/faster than these 2? Admit it Mike, you wish you were digging up cannas too right now!

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Posted by Jay Tallahassee 8b on 10/31/2009, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Large cannas"
98.192.128.81

I have to say I don't really like the banana canna too much because the stems on mine fall over pretty easily. Jay N 30.5 W 84.2 Elev: 150 ft. North Florida Palm Society http://palmsociety.blogspot.com/

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Posted by Stosh Lancaster PA z6b on 10/31/2009, 8:39 pm, in reply to "Re: Large cannas"
70.15.103.185

I can imagine that's possible, but it never happened to me. Mine are within a fence boundary so they're kind of protected. Also, since I pack my plants in so tightly, they hold each other up.

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Posted by Rick PA z6b on 10/31/2009, 9:04 pm, in reply to "Large cannas"
76.98.222.176

I have those two as well and the tubers are huge ... I tried canna "Omega" that I got from Brian Williams this year and it appears to be equally vigorous and easily got to at least 8' . It has medium green leaves similar to musella lasiocarpa and an orangish yellow flower . I liked it a lot ... Putting more tropicality into my locality since 2006 ...

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Posted by Paul-Salisbury7b on 10/31/2009, 9:08 pm, in reply to "Large cannas"
75.227.223.158

I have 10-12 varieties I grow and the most vigorous and tallest hands down is Peach Gigantum which will easily top out at 12 feet, and to give you an example I will set them in the spring in a bed with 3 feet on each side and by fall I am digging them out of my turf. The meatiest ones I grow usually end up to be Australia,Grande Musafolia or Robert Kemp. Here is a 90 degree row that I use to keep my neighbors wiregrass in check.

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Posted by Louise GA z7 on 11/1/2009, 12:01 am, in reply to "Large cannas"
72.152.249.99 | Message modified by user Louise GA z7 11/1/2009, 2:08 am

I looked up red stripe and I like the foliage color. Do you want to trade any? I have canna 'Stuggart' and some very dark foliage ones. and Hedychium 'Dr Moy'. and other things

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Posted by Louise GA z7 on 11/1/2009, 9:07 am, in reply to "Nice color"
72.152.249.99 | Message modified by user Louise GA z7 11/2/2009, 11:43 am

How many roots or tubers do you want? Send me your address and I will try to mail them tommorrow. I have a few very dark leaf ones

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Posted by John B in DC on 11/1/2009, 9:49 pm, in reply to "Large cannas"
98.218.23.70

I'm also growing both 'Musifolia' and 'Red Stripe'. I'm always amazed at the rhizomes they produce. I would guess that for every pound of rhizome I plant in the spring, I harvest at least 20 or 30 pounds of new rhizomes in the fall. They are edible and some are cultivated for their starchy rhizomes, but I've never tried eating them. Another one I tried this year was 'Russian Red', which is similar to 'Red Stripe' but with darker foliage and is slightly more floriferous. It got off to a slow start but once it got going did very, very well. The pot is bulging so I think this one is also going to be a good rhizome producer! John B. Washington, DC DCTropics group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dctropics

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Posted by Stosh Lancaster PA z6b on 11/2/2009, 6:06 am, in reply to "Re: Large cannas"
70.15.103.185

Thanks for the info, John. Is what's pictured the Russian Red? It looks just like Red Stripe. Hard to tell on my laptop monitor. Either way I bet those guys are thirsty being in a pot. And it's obvious you're watering them because they look great.

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Posted by Stosh Lancaster PA z6b on 11/2/2009, 6:07 am, in reply to "Re: Large cannas"
70.15.103.185

Sounds like I need to try Peach Gigantum Have any extra you want to trade?

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Posted by Paul-Salisbury7b on 11/2/2009, 4:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Large cannas"
98.211.115.47

We have plenty of them this year we could trade.

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Posted by John B in DC on 11/3/2009, 9:40 am, in reply to "Re: Large cannas"
160.111.254.15

Yes, that's Russian Red in my photos. It is very similar to Red Stripe and they are undoubtedly related but the foliage of Russian Red is darker, and stays darker. Red Stripe has leaves that emerge a dark purplish-red but mature to a deep green with darker edges and veins (hence the name) whereas Russian Red has more of an all-over dark color. The leaves of Russian Red are also somewhat broader than those of Red Stripe, with blunter tips. Red Stripe tends to be a poor bloomer for me, whereas Russian Red was quite floriferous (although neither of them have large flowers). Here are some photos of Red Stripe (first photo is Russian Red for comparison): John B. Washington, DC DCTropics group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dctropics

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