Canna indica
CANNA RED
SKU: 432-005
Description
Canna indica is a perennial growing to 2m, producing many large, bright red flowers. It is hardy to zone 10 and is frost tender.
The seeds are black pellets, hard and dense enough to sink in water. They resemble shotgun pellets giving rise to the plant's common name of Indian shot. The seeds are hard enough to shoot through wood and still survive and later germinate. According to the BBC "The story goes that during the Indian Mutiny of the 19th century, soldiers used the seeds of a Canna indica when they ran out of bullets."
The seeds are widely used for jewellery. The seeds are also used as the mobile elements of the kayamb, a musical instrument from Réunion, as well as the hosho, a gourd rattle from Zimbabwe, where the seeds are known as "hota" seeds.
Canna indica is native to much of South America, Central America, the West Indies, Mexico, and the southeastern United States (Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina). It is also naturalized in much of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
Cannas are available in many colors. These seeds are for the loved, deep-red Canna. The leaves can be red or green.
Type: Perennial, frost tender
Height: Up to 2 meters, approximately 6 feet
Location: Sun or part sun
Hardiness zones: 10-11, elsewhere dig and store tubers for the winter
Bloom time: All season
Seeds per pack: 5 Large seeds
Germination: Scratch each seed with sand-paper, or on a rough stone or brick, then soak in a warm location for 12-24 hours. Plant seeds just barely below the surface of the soil, and place the container in a sunny window. A heat mat can speed germination, but is not essential as long as they are in a warm area. Germination is 1-3 weeks. Be sure to keep the soil moist during the germination period.
Description
Canna indica is a perennial growing to 2m, producing many large, bright red flowers. It is hardy to zone 10 and is frost tender.
The seeds are black pellets, hard and dense enough to sink in water. They resemble shotgun pellets giving rise to the plant's common name of Indian shot. The seeds are hard enough to shoot through wood and still survive and later germinate. According to the BBC "The story goes that during the Indian Mutiny of the 19th century, soldiers used the seeds of a Canna indica when they ran out of bullets."
The seeds are widely used for jewellery. The seeds are also used as the mobile elements of the kayamb, a musical instrument from Réunion, as well as the hosho, a gourd rattle from Zimbabwe, where the seeds are known as "hota" seeds.
Canna indica is native to much of South America, Central America, the West Indies, Mexico, and the southeastern United States (Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and South Carolina). It is also naturalized in much of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Oceania.
Cannas are available in many colors. These seeds are for the loved, deep-red Canna. The leaves can be red or green.
Type: Perennial, frost tender
Height: Up to 2 meters, approximately 6 feet
Location: Sun or part sun
Hardiness zones: 10-11, elsewhere dig and store tubers for the winter
Bloom time: All season
Seeds per pack: 5 Large seeds
Germination: Scratch each seed with sand-paper, or on a rough stone or brick, then soak in a warm location for 12-24 hours. Plant seeds just barely below the surface of the soil, and place the container in a sunny window. A heat mat can speed germination, but is not essential as long as they are in a warm area. Germination is 1-3 weeks. Be sure to keep the soil moist during the germination period.
