Well, with no response, I've googled it and learned that the ones I got today were, of all things, Tropicanna, and that the more chartreuse one is a Pretoria.

I wanted to get them planted, so with no response, I pruned them as seemed appropriate and planted them. We'll see.

Since November I have hauled maybe four thousand bags of leaves which, mixed with a ton or more of coffee grounds and other greens--much compost cooking. All kinds of things show up in those bags: doughnuts, Coke bottles and cans--they throw it all in with the dead leaves. Imagine my surprise when one day, out of a section of strip composting about four feet deep, there sprang this canna, which today I learned is a Pretoria. My canna world is coming alive.

Did the ones with the roots appear to be doing well still? I always wondered if there was no eye or rhizome, if the canna could survive.

OldWriter, I just got here, been working of all things...

In Texas, I think you can get cannas to grow anywhere by doing anything or by doing nothing!

Give them full sun, & plant them out of the wind.
Wind will catch those big leaves like sails, & you'll have rags & tatters for leaves.

Don't ask me how I know this. I just do.

I never have tried to grow one without a rhizome, but several people on this forum grow them from seed, which of course wouldn't have a rhizome for at least the first year.
It seems like I've read that they have to baby seedlings for a year or so, maybe until they grow a rhizome?

I don't know about cutting them back;
the only time I cut them back, or see anyone else cutting them back, is after they "melt" into brown slimy remnants of themselves after the first hard frost, usually after Thanksgiving here in DFW.

Best luck.

sylvia

I bought Pretoria and Tropicanna at a Fall Sale today for 50% off. I'm on the western edge of Central Texas zone 7. Is there a problem with either of these two remaining in the ground over this winter with mulching? Do they prefer full sun or a little partial shade?

Any help appreciated,
Peggy

I find that if you let the new shoot grow to about 6"
and then cut with sharp blade from the rhizome with roots or no roots, the plant develops very quickly in to a new rhizome
4 weeks would give you a very large plant I live in uk, we get alot of rain so maybe the conditions helps this process
they love full sun