Alice Harris
Canna ‘Intrigue’
(Foliage Group)
Height Tall
Foliage Dark
Form Upright
Flower Red
Blooming Average bloomer
Tillering Prolific
Canna ‘Intrigue’ is a tall Foliage Group cultivar; purple foliage, large, lanceolate shaped, upright habit; round main stems, coloured purple; flowers are open, self-coloured orange-red, staminodes are long and narrow, edges regular, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, average bloomer, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not known if true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round; rhizomes are long and thin, coloured white and pink; tillering is prolific.
One of the most outstanding new introductions of the late century, its tall distinctive upright habit make a strong architectural statement.
Kelly's Plant World, California, USA. 1989
Medium size, orange orchid type flowers. Unique red, lance shaped foliage. Height 4-7 ft.
Brockings Exotics Catalogue, 1997
(T) New introduction from USA, tall slender habit, rich narrow bronze foliage, small soft apricot orange flowers.
Stokes Tropicals Catalog, Louisiana Internet October, 2000
Exceptionally tall burgundy and green sword-shaped foliage growing from 6-9 feet in height.
Plant Delights Nursery, Inc., 2000
Designers love it, garden visitors love it, we love it…so why are we sharing? This amazing
Canna is one of the most un-canna looking Cannas that we have grown. The very narrow pointed purple-grey foliage makes one of the most stunning accent plant in the garden. In addition, the narrow leaves and strong vertical habit make the architectural presentation of this
Canna most special. The 7′ tall clumps are topped in very late summer with small orange-red flowers, but this baby is truly chosen for its wonderful form…sort of like the babes of Baywatch. $15
Canna Handbook, Keith Hayward. Edition 1.06. © September 2000
Mainly a foliage plant, but quite distinct from ‘Purpurea’ in the shape of the leaves, which are unusually long and slender parallel-sided lances. They point upwards, and are a deep purple-brown colour. The flowers are very small, delicate, and tangerine orange. Can grow tall, 2m.
Ian Cooke, The Gardeners Guide to Growing Cannas
(T) This recent introduction from the USA is mainly grown for its lovely foliage. It has a slender habit with rich bronze foliage. The small, soft apricot-orange flowers are not unattractive but do not contribute a great amount to the impression. It is very tall so makes a good background or statement plant. It was raised by Herb Kelly.
Rivendell Botanic Garden, List January 2001
Soft orange flowers, leaves red, blue and green. Tall, long thin rhizomes.
KAVB International
Canna Checklist, September 2004
Very narrow pointed purple gray leaves, with vertical habitat. Small orange red flowers. (Plant Delights Nursery, Raleigh, North Carolia, USA. 5 Feb 2002)
Claines
Canna Collection 2006
Summary: An architectural statement with its large, long, deep-brown, sabre-shaped leaves in clumps up to 2m (6’6″) high. It is adorned by peach flowers in very late summer as a bonus, but this is really grown as a foliage plant.
Size: Clumps up to 2m (6’) high. the narrow leaves and strong vertical habit make the architectural presentation of this
Canna most special.
Flower: Peach flowers in very late summer.
Foliage: Large, long, deep-brown sabre-shaped leaves make this one of the most stunning accent plants in the garden.
Origin: Hybridiser is Herb Kelly, USA
The rhizomes indicate that this may have an aquatic heritage, as it was an unnamed plant discovered and marketed by Herb Kelly. What was its original name?
