The President

Canna ‘The President’

syns L’Aiglon, Le Président, President, Red Spiritiae
(Premier Group)

Origin WINTZER Antoine
Height Medium
Foliage Green
Form Spreading
Flower Red
Blooming Good bloomer
Flowering August/September/October/Until frosts
Tillering Average

Canna ‘The President’ is a medium sized Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, large, oval shaped, spreading habit; oval main stems, coloured green + purple; flowers are open, self-coloured scarlet (RHS 44A), staminodes are large, edges regular, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in August until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; seed is sterile, pollen is low fertile; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured pink and purple; tillering is average.

Canna 'The President'

References

Peter Henderson & Co, Catalogue 1937

The President. Green foliage. Color bright glistening scarlet. The individual florets often measure seven inches across when open. Height 5 feet.

G.W. Park Seed Co, SC, USA, Catalog 1938

THE PRESIDENT, 3′. This Canna is superior to any other red variety in the quality and quantity of bloom. Color rich glowing scarlet. The immense firm flowers are produced on strong, erect stems well above the large leaves of rich green.

G.W. Park Seed Co, SC, USA, Catalog 1939

Allen's Nurseries, Ohio, USA. Catalog 1939

The President. Vîvid scarlet flowers in huge trusses. So magnificent is it, so vigorous and profuse-blooming, that quite deservedly it is considered best of all red Cannas. Massive in effect, the plants grow 4 feet tall, have flowers of gigantic size.

Burgess Seed and Plant Co, Catalogue 1939

THE PRESIDENT. Green foliage. Rich, glowing, cardinal scarlet blossoms of mammoth size. One of the most gorgeous Cannas. 5 feet.

Burgess Seed and Plant Co, Catalogue 1941

THE PRESIDENT. Rich, glowing, cardinal scarlet blossoms of mammoth size. One of the most gorgeous Cannas. 5 feet.

Naughton Farms, Waxahachie, Texas, USA. Catalogue 1945

Pure red.

Garden Flowers in Color by Daniel J. Foley

Glowing scarlet, is a vogorous grower.

Burpee, USA, Catalog 1946

The President. Bright scarlet. 5 ft.

Olds' Seeds, Catalogue 1947

4 feet tall. The President leads the red varieties in the quality and also the quantity of its blooms. Flowers are 7 inches across; individual petals firm and long-standing; trusses standing up stiff on strong , long stems. The foliage is green. Bulbs, 20c each; 3 for 50c; 12 for 1.80, postpaid.

Henry Field's Catalogue, 1969

THE PRESIDENT. Cherry red flowers. Rich green foliage. Grows 4 feet tall.

Spring Hill Nurseries, Tipp City, Ohio, USA. Catalogue 1971

America’s most popular blazing red Canna for over a decade! Giant long-lasting torch-like blooms much prettier than pictured, glow as if lighhted with an inner fire and are produced in great frofusion continuously from early summer until frost. Lush giant green leaves add an exotic tropical effect. Immense dazzking flower clusters on husky 4 to 5 ft. stems produce a blazing floral display. One of the “showiest” flowers you can grow!

Spring Hill Nurseries, Tipp City, Ohio, USA. Catalogue 1972

THE PRESIDENT. Americas Finest Canna. America’s ‘most popular blazing red Canna for over a decade! Giant long-lasting, torch-like blooms much prettier than pictured, glow as if lighted with an inner fire and are produced in greater profusion continuously from early summer until frost. Lush giant green leaves add an exotic tropical effect. Immense dazzling flower clusters on husky 4 to 5 ft. stems produce a blazing floral display. One of the “showiest” of all flowers.

Burgess Seed & Plant Co, USA, 1983

America’s finest red Canna and one of the world’s showiest flowers. Our most popular blazing red Canna. Giant long-lasting torch-like blooms glow as if lighted with an inner fire of dazzling brilliance and are produced in great profusion from early summer until frost. Immense flower clusters on husky 4 to 5 ft. stems produce a blazing floral display. Lush giant green leaves add an exotic tropical effect. Heavy 2-3 eye roots.

Burgess Seed and Plant Co, Catalogue 1983

THE PRESIDENT – America’s finest red Canna and one of the world’s showiest flowers. Our most popular blazing red Canna. Giant long-lasting torch-like blooms glow as if lighted with an inner fire of dazzling brilliance and are produced in great profusion from early summer until frost. Immense flower clusters on husky 4 to 5 ft. stems produce a blazing floral display. Lush giant green leaves add an exotic tropical effect.

Cannas for the Florida Landscape, by B. Tjia and R. J. Black, 1990

The presidents, flowers scarlet, foliage green, height 4.0′ (120 cm).

IndiaAgroNet 2005

Beautiful large flowers with rich growing scarlet colour.

Gardeners Chronicle of America

A. Wintzer originated this cultivar and C. & J. introduced it. This publication is dated a least a few years after information was published by other companies offering it for sale but not claiming to be the introducer. Assuming C. & Jones did indeed introduce ‘The President’ there likely is no correlation between the cultivar ‘Queen of Beauty’ and ‘The President’.

This C & J information was published in “Gardeners Chronicle of America” in 1922-23.