How to Divide Cannas

Canna lilies, known scientifically as Canna x generalis, are tropical and subtropical perennial herbaceous plants with light green, ovate leaves and showy red, orange-red, pink, white or yellow blossoms that bloom from midsummer to frost. U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 8 through 11 provide the ideal growing climate for canna lilies; outside of these zones, canna lily rhizomes should be dug up before the onset of cold winter temperatures. Divide canna rhizomes every three to five years to keep your plants healthy; the process is simple and can be completed in just minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Garden or kitchen knife
• Shovel
• Composted pine bark
• Peat moss
• Perlite

Instructions

1. Dig up the canna lily rhizomes for division in the spring if cannas are hardy in your area. Dig up the rhizomes before the first fall frost if you live outside of cannas' ideal hardiness zones.

2. Rinse your canna lily rhizomes under room-temperature water to wash away the soil. Pat the rhizomes dry using a paper towel.

3. Use a sharpened and sterilized garden or kitchen knife to divide your canna lily rhizomes. Cut the rhizomes into pieces, making sure that each piece has at least one healthy-looking growing point or "eye."

4. Lay the rhizome divisions on paper towels for three to five days to allow them to dry a bit before replanting.

5. Plant the canna lily rhizome divisions in a site that gets six or more hours of direct sun per day and has well-draining soil. Enrich your garden bed with organic material to improve its drainage, if needed; till a 3-inch layer of equal parts composted pine bark, peat moss and perlite into the soil to a depth of 6 inches. Plant canna lily divisions 4 inches deep and 2 to 3 feet apart.

Tips & Warnings

• If you live in a climate where canna lilies won't survive the winter, store the rhizome divisions in a cool room in dry peat moss until spring. Plant the divisions in your garden or home landscape after the threat of spring frost has passed.

• Avoid planting canna lilies in soils that are prone to flooding. Soils that are too wet rot canna lily rhizomes.

References

• "The Essential Garden"; Liz Dobbs; 2002
• University of Minnesota Extension; Calla and Canna Lilies; Beth R. Jarvis; February 1999
• University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service; Canna x generalis; Edward F. Gilman; October 1999
• Floridata; Canna X generalis; Jack Scheper; July 1998
• University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service; Canna Lily; Gerald Klingaman; July 1999

Resources

• Arizona State University: Canna x generalis