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Tropical rhizomatous perennial
Cannaceae
Ornamental bulbs
Van Noort
‘Fantasy’ Canna
From bulb to bloom
Common nameFantasy canna
FamilyCannaceae
GenusCanna
CultivarFantasy
Bulb typeTropical rhizomatous perennial
Botanical nameCanna
Quantity per pack1 No. 1 size rhizome
‘Fantasy’ Canna (Canna ‘Fantasy’) offers cream flowers resembling small orchids, finely speckled peach and pink. They rise on upright stems above broad, green, tropical-looking leaves. The plant reaches approximately 100 cm tall and 50 cm wide. This package contains one No. 1 size rhizome. Its compact habit suits sunny borders, exotic planting schemes, and substantial patio containers. Flowering continues from midsummer until the first frost when the site provides sufficient warmth, moisture, and nutrients. The unusual markings reward close viewing near a doorway or path, while the lush foliage maintains interest before the first flower opens.
Plant in spring after the final frost, once the soil has warmed, using fertile, loose, freely drained ground. Set the rhizome approximately 10 cm deep with its buds facing upward and leave 45 cm around the plant. Full sun encourages flowering; light partial shade is suitable in exceptionally hot sites. Water after planting, then keep soil evenly moist without standing water. Incorporate mature compost and feed lightly during active growth. For container culture, choose a stable pot at least 35 to 40 cm wide and deep because the broad leaves catch wind. Check moisture often during hot, sunny weather.
Remove faded flowers to preserve a tidy silhouette and support the opening of new buds. Cut leaves only after they yellow or become damaged. Before the first frost, lift the rhizome or move its container indoors. Allow the rhizome to dry briefly, then store it in a dark, ventilated, frost-free place, ideally between 5 and 10 °C. Keep it almost dry during dormancy. The following spring, divide only firm sections carrying at least one visible bud. Pair ‘Fantasy’ with zinnias, salvias, verbenas, and compact grasses that appreciate similar sun and warmth. Store ornamental rhizomes beyond the reach of children and pets.
Light and life cycle
In the garden
- Exposure
- Full sun to partial shade
- Life cycle
- Tender perennial grown as an annual in colder Canadian regions
- Hardiness
- Zones 4 to 8
Planting and establishment
Planting guide
Planting & establishment
Spacing / density
space about 45 cm (18 in.)
Planting period
After the last frost, once the soil has warmed
Propagation
Division of dormant rhizomes
Growing method
After the last frost, select a warm, sheltered, brightly lit position. Loosen the soil to at least 25 cm and incorporate mature compost plus drainage material if the ground holds water. Set the No. 1 size rhizome growing point upward, 10 cm deep, leaving approximately 45 cm of open space. Water to settle the soil. Maintain light, even moisture during growth, but do not water again while the surface remains saturated. Emergence may be slow when nights are cool. After leaves lengthen, apply a balanced fertilizer at low strength and repeat when the flower spike begins forming. Stake only in an exposed site. Remove faded flowers but retain every green leaf. Before the first frost, lift the rhizome, allow it to dry for several days in shade, and store it dry, dark, and ideally above 10 °C until warm spring conditions return. Inspect stored material periodically and discard any soft, rotting sections. The following spring, inspect the rhizome and replant only firm, healthy material. Renew surface compost, wait for the soil to warm, and resume watering gradually. Keep a label with the stored rhizome so its identity is preserved through dormancy and it is not confused with other tender species. When several rhizomes are grown together, maintain the same spacing rather than crowding them for an immediate effect.
Soil and care
Soil and care
Soil & care
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral, approximately 6.0 to 7.0
Moisture
Evenly moist but drained soil during active growth
Care level
Moderate
Watering
Water after planting, then wait until the surface begins to dry before watering again. During active growth, maintain even moisture without leaving the rhizome in saturated soil. Reduce watering as foliage yellows. During winter storage, keep the rhizome nearly dry because persistent moisture encourages rot. Container plants need more frequent checks, especially during hot weather, but drainage holes must always remain open.
Soil type
Choose fertile, loose, freely drained soil that warms quickly in spring. Compost-enriched loam works well. In clay ground, improve the entire planting volume with compost and coarse drainage material, or use a raised bed. Avoid low hollows where water stands because this tropical rhizome rots readily in cold, saturated soil. A neutral reaction and steady summer warmth encourage strong roots and a well-developed flower spike.
Fertilization
Incorporate a modest amount of mature compost before planting. Once leaves are well developed, apply balanced or rhizome fertilizer at low strength, then repeat when the flower spike begins forming. Avoid products very high in nitrogen because they encourage abundant foliage at the expense of flowers and produce softer stems. Stop feeding as foliage begins to cream, peach, and pink and dormancy approaches.
Seasonal care
In spring, wait until frost has ended and the soil has warmed. Plant the rhizome 10 cm deep with buds facing upward, then water. In early summer, maintain even moisture, apply balanced fertilizer at low strength, and weed by hand. Watch for slugs and snails around young shoots. During hot periods, check containers more often without leaving water in a saucer. Remove faded flowers to maintain a tidy silhouette and encourage following buds to open. Cut only yellowed or torn leaves. Inspect leaf undersides so spider mites are detected promptly. In fall, reduce watering gradually as temperatures decline. Before the first frost, lift the rhizome or move its pot indoors. Allow it to dry briefly in shade, brush away loose soil, and store it in a dark, ventilated, frost-free place, ideally between 5 and 10 °C. Through winter, keep it almost dry and inspect monthly. Remove soft portions and retain only firm tissue. The following spring, divide if needed, keeping at least one bud on every section, and replant after reliable warmth returns. Label stored material so the cultivar remains correctly identified. Clean tools after division, allow every cut surface to dry briefly, and keep rhizomes beyond the reach of children and pets. When spring returns, acclimate young leaves to sunlight over several days and monitor moisture until growth is fully established. Resume fertilizer only after active shoots are visible. Check that stored labels remain legible, discard mouldy packing material, and avoid planting damaged pieces that could introduce rot into fresh soil.
Growing in containers
Container growing
Container growing
Recommended pot size
container at least 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in.) deep, with drainage
Choose a stable container at least 35 to 40 cm wide and deep with several unobstructed drainage holes. Fill it with fertile potting mix amended with perlite and a modest amount of mature compost. Set the rhizome 10 cm deep with buds facing upward, then water. Position the pot in full sun with shelter from strong winds that could tear broad leaves. Water when the surface begins drying without leaving water in a saucer. Apply diluted balanced fertilizer after shoots develop and repeat according to its label during growth. Rotate the container gradually to maintain an upright habit. Remove faded flowers and damaged leaves. Before frost, move the pot into a bright, cool place until foliage yellows. Cut dry stems, then keep the mix almost dry in a dark, ventilated, frost-free area. In spring, replace the upper potting mix, check drainage, and resume watering as temperatures rise. Divide only a crowded rhizome, retaining a healthy bud on every section. Acclimate new foliage gradually when returning the pot outdoors. Check moisture more often during heat waves and add a discreet stake only when wind threatens the flower stem. Keep a label with the pot through dormancy so the cultivar remains identifiable before foliage appears. If several rhizomes share a large planter, maintain adequate spacing and renew some mix every spring instead of allowing roots to become severely congested.
Growth and flowering
Size, flowering & harvest
Mature height
30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 in.)
Width / spread
10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in.)
Flower color
Cream speckled peach and pink
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Deciduous foliage that becomes dormant after flowering
Growth rate
Moderate
Growth habit
Upright and compact
Fragrance
Subtle fragrance
Bloom period
Cream, orchid-like flowers are finely speckled peach and pink. They continue from midsummer until frost when the plant receives sufficient warmth. Upright stems reach approximately 100 cm above broad green leaves. Remove faded flowers to maintain a clean silhouette and support continued bud production. The unusual pattern is best appreciated near a patio, entrance, or path where individual markings remain easy to see.
Garden companions
Garden associations
Companion plants & uses
Companion plants
Zinnias, annual salvias, verbenas, blanket flowers, celosias, and compact grasses also appreciate warmth, sun, and freely drained soil. Choose companions low enough to reveal the flower spike and preserve light on the strap-shaped leaves. In a container, trailing lobelia or calibrachoa can soften the rim. Avoid very vigorous plants, dense groundcovers, and species requiring constantly saturated soil because they compete with or endanger the rhizome. Keep an open area around the crown so moisture can be monitored and rot risk reduced. Neighbouring containers also allow the colour combination to change without disturbing the rhizome. Select companions with moderate feeding needs so fertilizer levels remain appropriate for flower production rather than excessive foliage.
Garden use
Plant ‘Fantasy’ beside a patio, entrance, or path where its peach and pink speckles can be viewed closely. The 100 cm height creates a vertical accent among lower annuals. In a warm border, space the rhizome 45 cm apart and avoid vigorous neighbours that remove light and moisture. Purple zinnias, blue salvias, verbenas, and compact grasses emphasize cream flowers while preserving airflow. In a container, use a heavy pot against a sunny wall and add trailing plants around the rim without covering the rhizome. Repeat the cultivar in two large pots to frame an entrance. Remove faded flowers regularly to extend interest until frost. Retain every healthy leaf because foliage feeds the rhizome. Before cold weather, move pots indoors or lift rhizomes. Label them during dormancy and store them beyond the reach of children and pets. The following spring, return pots outdoors gradually to prevent damage from intense sun or a cold night. This flexible placement makes the cultivar useful in both permanent beds and seasonal patio displays. Apply a thin mulch to reduce splashing and rapid moisture changes without covering emerging shoots. In compact spaces, one substantial pot creates a tropical effect without obstructing circulation around a doorway or path. Group it with lower plants rather than another tall specimen so the orchid-like blooms and broad leaves remain visible from several angles.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
When and how should the Fantasy canna rhizome be planted?
Plant after the final frost once the soil has warmed. Choose full sun or very light partial shade and loosen fertile, compost-rich, freely drained soil. Set the No. 1 size rhizome approximately 10 cm deep with its buds facing upward, then leave 45 cm around the plant. Water to settle the soil and maintain even moisture without standing water. Shoots may emerge slowly while nights remain cool. In a container, use a stable pot 35 to 40 cm wide and deep with several open drainage holes. Sustained warmth, moderate feeding, and regular moisture support vigorous early growth. This spacing also leaves room for the broad leaves to develop without crowding nearby plants.
Can Fantasy canna remain outdoors through a cold Canadian regions winter?
No. The supplier lists Zone 9 hardiness. Before the first frost, lift the rhizome or move its container indoors. After foliage yellows, cut stems back to a few centimetres and allow the rhizome to dry briefly in shade. Store it in a dark, ventilated, frost-free place, ideally between 5 and 10 °C. Keep it almost dry and inspect it monthly. Remove any soft or rotting tissue. Replant in spring after frost has ended and the soil has warmed. This protected dormant period makes it possible to preserve the plant from year to year without exposing the rhizome to frozen, saturated soil.
Which exposure produces the most flowers?
Full sun generally produces the most flowers and maintains compact growth. Light partial shade can work in an exceptionally hot position, but dense shade reduces blooming. Select shelter from strong winds because broad leaves can tear. Soil should remain evenly moist during growth while draining excess water promptly. A warm wall or sunny patio helps the rhizome start in spring. In a container, rotate the pot gradually so the stem remains upright and every leaf receives balanced light. Avoid sudden moves from deep shade into intense sun because tender foliage may scorch before it acclimates. Regular moisture and light feeding then help the sunlit foliage support continuous buds.
How should Fantasy canna be watered and fed?
Water after planting, then keep the soil evenly moist throughout active growth. Allow the surface to begin drying before the next application, however, and never leave a container standing in a water-filled saucer. Incorporate mature compost at planting. Once shoots are established, apply balanced fertilizer at low strength every few weeks according to its label. Avoid excessive nitrogen because it favours leaves at the expense of flowers. Stop feeding and reduce water gradually as foliage yellows and dormancy approaches. Container plants need more frequent checking during heat because their broad leaves use moisture quickly. Mulch lightly in the ground to reduce rapid moisture swings without covering emerging shoots.
Is Fantasy canna safe for pets?
This rhizome is sold for ornamental cultivation and should not be eaten. Store dormant rhizomes beyond the reach of children and pets, and position containers where animals cannot dig them up. Wear gloves if your skin is sensitive and wash hands after planting, division, or cleanup. Collect rhizome pieces that separate during storage. If ingestion or symptoms are suspected, contact a veterinarian or healthcare professional promptly. These precautions also apply to plants moved indoors before frost, where curious pets may gain easier access. Discard soft or rotten stored material securely rather than leaving it on an open compost pile. Keep a clear plant label with stored material throughout dormancy.
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Wildlife & precautions
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