Canna ‘Tropical Red’ is a small Miniature Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; oval main stems, coloured green; clusters of flowers are open, self-coloured red, throat pale yellow, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, style is yellow, petals red, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in June until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and purple; tillering is average.
Although an urban myth has built up around the Tropical Series, stating that they are self-pollinating and true to type, the fact is that their reproductive organs are no different from the rest of the Crozy Group. They are neither self-pollinating or totally true to type. By growing each series cultivar in isolation from other cannas, and destroying any of the wrong flower colour, the seed suppliers are able to maintain the correct colour in the seeds.
Summary: Dwarf variety. Ideal for use in containers and bedding. Single flowers clustered in terminal spikes. Red distinctive blooms.
Size: Dwarf variety. Ideal for use in containers and bedding.
Flower: Single flowers clustered in terminal spikes. Red distinctive blooms.
Foliage: Green leaves.
Origin: Raised by Takii and Co. Japan.
Canna ‘Tropical Rose’ is a small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, white margin, branching habit; oval main stems, coloured green; triangular flower stalks, coloured green; flowers are open, self-coloured rose, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, petals green, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in June until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is slow.
Very dwarf plant with rounded pink flowers and bright green foliage.
Aaron’s Bulb Farm Internet October, 2000
Lush, arching foliage and rose pink flowers 2 to 2·5 feet AAS 1992 £3.99 for 7 seeds (U.K.), $4.99 for 7 seeds (U.S.) (Seeds imported from Japan) Rose flowers, Green leaves, 4 feet, 3 for $4.957
Ian Cooke, The Gardeners Guide to Growing Cannas
(S) A chunky little plant with medium-sized, sugar-pink flowers and green foliage. It is of interest in that it is one of a new generation of true-breeding seed –raised Cannas. It was raised by Takii & Co of Japan and developed by the subsidiary American Takii of Salinas and first released in 1991 to be subsequently awarded the All America Selections (AAS) award. It takes approximately 90 days to flower from seed sowing. There is also ‘Tropical Red’ which is less commonly available and does not perform so well. Usually obtainable from garden centres each summer.
Summary: Single flowers clustered in terminal spikes. Flowers of deep rose pink, which are held perfectly above the leaves. Flowers summer and early autumn.
Size: Dwarf in height, prolific grower. Height 60-75cm (24-30in).
Flower: Single flowers clustered in terminal spikes. Flowers of deep rose pink, which are held perfectly above the leaves. Flowers summer and early autumn.
Foliage: Produces lush, arching green foliage.
Origin: Bred by Takii and Co. Japan.
Awards: A.A.S. award winner.
Canna ‘Tropical Salmon’ is a small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, elliptical shaped, spreading habit; oval main stems, coloured green; flowers are open, self-coloured salmon, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, petals red, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white and pink; tillering is slow.
Summary: Open type glowing salmon coloured flower. The more mature this canna becomes, the lovelier it blooms.
Size: Dwarf variety, Ideal for use in containers and bedding.
Flower: Open type glowing salmon coloured flower. The more mature this canna becomes, the lovelier it blooms.
Foliage: Green leaves.
Origin: One in the series of the new generation of true breeding seed cannas raised by Takii and Co. Japan.
Tropical™ Series is a dwarf Canna series from seed so it is not prone to diseases transmitted in rhizome production. Heavily branching plants bloom in approximately 90 days from sowing with continuous flowering. Tropical Rose is an AAS award winner.
Plants are 24 to 30 inches (60 to 75 centimeters) in height, and in suitable conditions can flower in less than 90 days from planting the seed.
Several urban myths have built up around the Tropical Series, firstly stating that they are self-pollinating and true to type, like a wild species, but the fact is that their reproductive organs are no different from the rest of the Crozy Groupm, on which they are based, and are neither self-pollinating or true to type.
Secondly, there is a belief that Canna specific viruses cannot be transmitted by seed, but experience has shown that there have been exceptions, and it is probably more correct to state that the chances of virus transmission by seed are marginal. [ed. Sensible roguing of seedlings is probably all that is required here.]
Breeding
There is a separate article on line-breeding, to which we refer, but briefly the possible process followed for a seed-generated series is to produce F1 and then possibly a F2 generations that match your breeding goals. Line-breeding would establish the small height and the undoubted vigour present in this series, and ensure that the desired attributes are dominant genetically. Then it is all down to the growing process.
Growing
The ongoing process is growing them in relative isolation from other cannas, so that pollen from different coloured plants is not imported to the growing/flowering field. By rigorous roguing (destroying) of any throwback plants that exhibit features from ancestors, i.e. flower and foliage colour, height and foliage shape the purity of the cultivar-type can be maintained..
Canna ‘Tropical White’ is a small Crozy Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, white margin, branching habit; oval main stems, coloured green; clusters of flowers are open, cream speckled with rose, staminodes are medium size, edges serrated, stamen is lemon, style is primrose-yellow, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning, average bloomer, flowers in until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is slow.
Although an urban myth has built up around the Tropical Series, stating that they are self-pollinating and true to type, the fact is that their reproductive organs are no different from the rest of the Crozy Group. They are neither self-pollinating or true to type.
Canna ‘Tropical Yellow’ is a small Crozy Group cultivar; mid green foliage, ovoid shaped, white margin, branching habit; round main stems, coloured green; flowers are yellow with rose-red spots, edges irregular, stamen is yellow, style is yellow, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in June until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is prolific.
Summary: One in the series of the new generation of true breeding seed cannas raised by Takii and Co. Japan. Yellow coloured distinctive blooms.
Size: Dwarf variety, ideal for use in containers and bedding.
Flower: Yellow coloured distinctive blooms.
Foliage: Green leaves.
Origin: One in the series of the new generation of true breeding seed cannas raised by Takii and Co. Japan.
A DISCUSSION ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE CANNACEAE FAMILY; OF INTEREST TO GARDENERS, COLLECTORS, AND PROFESSIONALS ALIKE.
