Swamp lilies
When I was growing up, the most likely place in our garden to find cannas was down the back in the soggy patch near the septic tank. Hardly a great advertisement for cannas but it does accentuate one of their growing needs: moist soil.
All that’s changed — and not just because of the spread of the sewerage network to most homes. Cannas are now recognised as striking summer-flowering perennials to grow in a prime position in a garden bed. You’ll also come across cannas mass-planted in parks and botanic gardens.
UK garden guru Monty Don is one of those who helped (available on YouTube for Australian viewers).
