Canna (Plant) Gallery
Encyclopedia
This is a gallery of named canna
cultivar
s, representative of the various Canna cultivar groups. Names of cultivars are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
, are registered with an International Cultivar Registration Authority
(ICRA
) and conform to the rules of the International Society for Horticultural Science
(ISHS) Commission for Nomenclature and Cultivar Registration. The ICRA for the Canna genus is the Royal General Bulbgrowers' Association
of the Netherlands (KAVB
).
Where several very similar cultivars exist, these are termed Cultivar group
s. For more details on the naming conventions see Cultivar naming
.
The pioneer of this group was Monsieur Crozy of Lyons, France, who started breeding Cannas as early as 1862, from stock originally developed by Théodore Année
, the world's first Canna hybridizer.
They are sometimes referred to as gladiolus flowering cannas, but describing flowers as similar to another genus is not to be encouraged. In the past, they were sometimes called the x generalis L.H. Bailey garden species, but "pretend" garden species have long been replaced by Cultivar Groups in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
.
Also, used to be called the orchid flowering cannas, or x orchiodes L.H. Bailey
garden species, although such "pretend" species are now deprecated in favour of Cultivar Group
s. In any event, it is difficult to see the similarity between this group and orchids.
Most of this group obtained its larger sized flowers from the introduction of Canna flaccida in the early 1890s by Dr Sprenger
in Naples, Italy followed shortly afterwards by Luther Burbank
in California, USA, with the same cross.
while he was working at Longwood Gardens
in the USA in 1967.
for more details.
Canna (plant)
Canna is a genus of nineteen species of flowering plants. The closest living relations to cannas are the other plant families of the order Zingiberales, that is the gingers, bananas, marantas, heliconias, strelitzias, etc.Canna is the only genus in the family Cannaceae...
cultivar
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
s, representative of the various Canna cultivar groups. Names of cultivars are regulated by the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants regulates the names of cultigens...
, are registered with an International Cultivar Registration Authority
International Cultivar Registration Authority
An International Cultivation Registration Authority is an organization responsible for ensuring that each plant cultivar receives a unique, authoritative botanical name....
(ICRA
ICRA
ICRA can refer to:* ICRA Limited, an Indian credit ratings agency* Indian Civil Rights Act of 1968, a United States Act regarding civil rights of American Indians/Native Americans...
) and conform to the rules of the International Society for Horticultural Science
International Society for Horticultural Science
The International Society for Horticultural Science is the world's leading independent organization of horticultural scientists. Its aim is "to promote and encourage research and education in all branches of horticultural science and to facilitate cooperation and knowledge transfer on a global...
(ISHS) Commission for Nomenclature and Cultivar Registration. The ICRA for the Canna genus is the Royal General Bulbgrowers' Association
KAVB
The Koninklijke Algemeene Vereniging voor Bloembollencultuur, translated from Dutch as the Royal General Association for Bulb Culture, but more commonly known world-wide by the acronym of KAVB, is a trade association for the bulb horticulture sector, and was established in 1860...
of the Netherlands (KAVB
KAVB
The Koninklijke Algemeene Vereniging voor Bloembollencultuur, translated from Dutch as the Royal General Association for Bulb Culture, but more commonly known world-wide by the acronym of KAVB, is a trade association for the bulb horticulture sector, and was established in 1860...
).
Where several very similar cultivars exist, these are termed Cultivar group
Cultivar group
In naming cultivated plants, a Group is a formal classification category, under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants :The term "Group" was introduced in the 2004 ICNCP, replacing the "Cultivar-group" of the 1995 ICNCP.A Group is united by some common trait; for example...
s. For more details on the naming conventions see Cultivar naming
Cultivar
A cultivar'Cultivar has two meanings as explained under Formal definition. When used in reference to a taxon, the word does not apply to an individual plant but to all those plants sharing the unique characteristics that define the cultivar. is a plant or group of plants selected for desirable...
.
Foliage group
Cultivars, F1 and F2 hybrids, normally with small species-like flowers, but grown principally for their foliage. This group has occasionally been referred to as the Année Group, after the originator. However, the use of a non-English character in the name creates problems, both in pronunciation and keyboard entry, that it was felt that as they were grown primarily for foliage, then that was the better name choice.Crozy group
A cultivar group where the flower spikes are arranged close together on the stalk and have narrow to medium petals. There is always space between the staminodes when arranged formally, and the labellum (lip) is smaller than the staminodes, and is often twisted or curled.The pioneer of this group was Monsieur Crozy of Lyons, France, who started breeding Cannas as early as 1862, from stock originally developed by Théodore Année
Théodore Année
Théodore Année, a wealthy, retired French diplomatic consul in South America, returned to France in the mid 1840's and settled in rue des Réservoirs, Passy, Paris, where he devoted himself to the culture of tropical plants from South America, having brought back with him the taste for plants with...
, the world's first Canna hybridizer.
They are sometimes referred to as gladiolus flowering cannas, but describing flowers as similar to another genus is not to be encouraged. In the past, they were sometimes called the x generalis L.H. Bailey garden species, but "pretend" garden species have long been replaced by Cultivar Groups in the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants
The International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants regulates the names of cultigens...
.
Italian group
A cultivar group with large, fragile staminodes. Flowers are arranged somewhat loosely, with wide petals, so wide that there is no space between them, when arranged formally. The labellum (lip) is larger, or at least as large, as the staminodes, unlike the other groups where it is smaller and sometimes curled. The stamen is also much wider than that in the other cultivar groups.Also, used to be called the orchid flowering cannas, or x orchiodes L.H. Bailey
Liberty Hyde Bailey
Liberty Hyde Bailey was an American horticulturist, botanist and cofounder of the American Society for Horticultural Science.-Biography:...
garden species, although such "pretend" species are now deprecated in favour of Cultivar Group
Cultivar group
In naming cultivated plants, a Group is a formal classification category, under the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants :The term "Group" was introduced in the 2004 ICNCP, replacing the "Cultivar-group" of the 1995 ICNCP.A Group is united by some common trait; for example...
s. In any event, it is difficult to see the similarity between this group and orchids.
Most of this group obtained its larger sized flowers from the introduction of Canna flaccida in the early 1890s by Dr Sprenger
Carl Ludwig Sprenger
Carl Ludwig Sprenger was a German botanist, born on 30 November 1846 at Güstrow, Mecklenburg and died 13 December 1917 on the island of Corfu....
in Naples, Italy followed shortly afterwards by Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank
Luther Burbank was an American botanist, horticulturist and a pioneer in agricultural science.He developed more than 800 strains and varieties of plants over his 54-year career. Burbank's varied creations included fruits, flowers, grains, grasses, and vegetables...
in California, USA, with the same cross.
Australian group
The result of a crossing of a Foliage Group seed parent with an Italian Group pollen parent (C. 'Red Stripe' x C. 'Bengal Tiger'), which resulted in the very large leaves of the Foliage Group allied with large flowers.Premier group
This grouping contains cultivars that have a large, circular shape, without gaps between the staminodes when ordered. These are derived from triploids and crosses with the Italian Group cultivars.Variegated group
Cultivars with variegated foliage, regardless of what other Group they may belong to.Conservatory group
The growing conditions in a Conservatory are quite specialised and do not suit many cultivars, this group have been selected for thriving in this environment, required features being plant vigor, early flowering, foliar appearance, self-cleaning ability and good propagation qualities. The originator of this group was Robert Armstrong (geneticist)Robert Armstrong (geneticist)
Dr. Robert Armstrong, Longwood Gardens newly appointed Geneticist, began a canna breeding program in 1967, when it was realized that cultivars available at that time were not suitable for use on display in the Gardens conservatories and lakes.-Goals:...
while he was working at Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens
Longwood Gardens consists of over 1,077 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, United States in the Brandywine Creek Valley...
in the USA in 1967.
Aquatic group
Cultivars that thrive as marginal water plants. Characteristically, they will have lance-shaped foliage and long, thin rhizomes.Miniature group
Cultivars growing under 0.5m (19") high, the flowers should be in scale to the rest of the plant.Agriculture group
Cultivars grown selectively for agricultural usage, normally for their very large rhizomes and a high starch yield. See Canna Agriculture GroupCanna Agriculture Group
The Canna Agriculture Group contains all of the varieties of Canna used in agriculture. Canna achira is a generic term used in South America to describe the cannas that have been selectively bred for agricultural purposes, normally derived from C. discolor...
for more details.