Plant Tropicanna Black Canna Lily in spring, and in summer, this canna lily produces masses of broad, fleshy, variegated purple-black leaves topped with distinctive scarlet-orange flowers. Borne atop long, strong, sturdy stems the prolific flower spikes bloom from midsummer to fall, beckoning to butterflies and hummingbirds.

An exotic herbaceous tender perennial, Tropicanna Black Canna Lily has a dense, upright, clumping habit and a fast growth rate. Heat- and humidity-loving, cannas mingle well with other annuals and perennials, especially those that share the canna lily’s tropical temperament. They grow well in boggy areas and around water features. Grouped or massed, they create a theatrical backdrop for shorter plants in beds and borders, but they also make spectacular screens in mild climates and can even be grown in a large container. It is an especially nice thriller (focal point) in a thriller-filler-spiller container garden.