Canna Lily is grown for its root. It's hardy across USDA zones 7 through 11 and stands up to deer. Its summer flowers are a moderate draw for hummingbirds and native bees, even though the root is the prize. It roots deep, which helps it reach moisture in a dry spell and open up tight soil as it establishes.
Zones
7-11
pH Range
5-8
Sun
Full Sun
Days to Maturity
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Score Canna Lily on your exact land.
Zone averages can't see the slope, soil, frost, and sun that decide whether canna lily actually takes — and those shift from one yard to the next. Enter your address and we'll score canna lily against your land's real conditions.
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What Canna Lily is
Canna Lily reaches around five feet at maturity. It blooms in summer. It's also deer-resistant.
How to grow Canna Lily
Canna Lily grows in USDA zones 7 through 11. Canna Lily does best in full sun — at least 6 hours of direct sun a day — and soil from pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground.
USDA Zones
7-11
USDA PHZM 2023
Soil pH
5 - 8
USDA PLANTS Database
Sun
Full Sun
plant_species_v5.csv
Drainage
well (dry spells)
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost Tolerance
57.2°F
plant_species_v5.csv
Mature Height
5 ft
plant_species_v5.csv
Frost-Free Days
0+
plant_species_v5.csv
Sow directly
Sow canna lily seed straight into the bed — root crops germinate fast and resent transplanting. Give them full sun.
Match the soil
Canna Lily prefers pH 5 to 8 (USDA PLANTS Database). A quick soil test from your local Extension lab tells you whether to add lime or sulfur to land in band.
Water steadily
Keep the root zone evenly moist through establishment. A 2–3 inch mulch layer holds moisture without waterlogging.
Harvest at maturity
Pull while roots are young and tender — sweeter than oversized ones. Local Cooperative Extension guides publish timing tables.
Good to know
Good news for pet owners — canna lily isn't known to be toxic to dogs or cats. (Source: ASPCA.)
Canna Lily offers moderate value to bees and other pollinators. (Source: Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership.)
Where Canna Lily thrives
Canna Lily is hardy across USDA zones 7 through 11. Zone is only the starting point, though: the soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific land decide how well it actually does.
Zones 7–11·Where Canna Lily growsOpen map →
On USDA hardiness-zone overlap, Canna Lily can grow in these states:
See if Canna Lily will thrive on your land
Zone averages are a start. Your exact soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and frost dates shape whether canna lily actually takes — we score it against the real conditions at your address.
Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:
We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I grow Canna Lily in my zone?
Canna Lily grows in USDA hardiness zones 7 through 11 (USDA PHZM 2023). Zone is one factor — soil pH, drainage, and frost dates on your specific parcel also shape whether it takes.
When should you plant Canna Lily?
Most growers plant canna lily after the last spring frost, once the soil has warmed. Your local frost dates set the exact window — a Growable Ground report reads them for your address.
How much sun does Canna Lily need?
Canna Lily needs full sun — a spot that catches at least 6 hours of direct summer sun a day. In more shade it still grows, but usually gives a smaller, later crop. The catch is that a yard rarely gets even light everywhere — a fence, the house, or one tall tree can quietly take those hours. A Growable Ground report reads the real sun-hours across your land, canopy and buildings included, so you can pick the brightest bed before you plant.
What soil does Canna Lily need?
Canna Lily prefers soil pH 5 to 8, on well-drained ground (USDA PLANTS Database). Your report scores your parcel's actual soil against that using USDA SSURGO data.
Does Canna Lily attract pollinators?
Yes — canna lily's flowers are a solid nectar source for hummingbirds and native bees (Xerces Society, Pollinator Partnership).
Is Canna Lily safe for pets?
Canna Lily is not known to be toxic to dogs or cats based on available data (ASPCA). Always supervise pets around new plantings.