White Princess

Canna ‘White Princess’

(Premier Group)

Origin PERCY-LANCASTER Sydney
Height Medium
Foliage Green
Form Spreading
Flower White
Blooming Good bloomer
Flowering July/August/September/October/Until frosts
Tillering Average

Canna ‘White Princess’ is a medium sized Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, spreading habit; round main stems, coloured green; flowers are open, self-coloured white, staminodes are medium size, edges regular, petals yellow, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in July until frosts in northern temperate zone, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not known if true to type, not self-pollinating, capsules subglobose; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured white; tillering is average.

This is the only white Premier Group canna, and as it is fertile there are excellent breeding opportunities available, both as seed and pollen parent. 

Canna ‘White Princess’
References
Claines Canna Collection 2006
Summary: A white that we are growing this year for the first time. Imported from India.
Size: Medium
Flower: Purest white.
Foliage: Green
Origin: From India, possibly hybridised by S. Percy-Lancaster and is one of his ‘Alipore’ cannas.

Whithelm Pride

Whithelm Pride

Canna ‘Whithelm Pride’

syn Whitham Pride
(Premier Group)

Origin Agrexco
Height Small
Foliage Dark
Form Branching
Flower Pink
Blooming Good bloomer
Flowering June/July/August/September/October/Until frosts
Tillering Slow
Awards RHS AGM after 2002 Canna Trials

Canna ‘Whithelm Pride’ is a small Premier Group cultivar; dark foliage, maroon margin, branching habit; flowers are open, self-coloured salmon, staminodes are medium size, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in mid-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 slow.

Canna ‘Withelm Pride’
References
Royal Horticultural Society, England – Canna Trial 2002
AGM after trial at Wisley 2002 from Agrexco.
Hart Canna, 2003, Internet January 2003
Dark green foliage flushed reddish at the edges and veins, and accentuated by red centre rib and red stem. Flowers which are an unusual shade of russet/pink. Exceptional for both foliage and flower and well deserves its RHS 2002 AGM Award. £8.00 for pack of 3 rhizomes.
Claines Canna Collection 2006
Summary: Salmon-pink flowers on purple stems, held above dark, bronzed leaves.
Size: 80-100cm (2’7″-3’3″) A spreading clump with upright stems and leaves.
Flower: The broad staminodes and the labellum are pink (52D), with deeper pink (52C), flushing apricot(32C) as flower ages; stigma orange-peach; stamen peach with some yellow; petals copper. Start of flowering mid-June.
Foliage: Bronze leaves.
Origin: Hybridiser was Agrexco.
Awards: 2002, ‘Award of Garden Merit’ in the RHS trials held at Wisley.

Wilhelm Pfitzer

Wilhelm Pfitzer

Wilhelm Pfitzer was 40 years of age in 1844, when he gave up his learned profession to open a nursery, in his own name, on parental property at Militärstraße, Stuttgart in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, EU. He founded a family firm that exists to this day and which has been a major influence on the development of many flower types, especially Dahlias, Gladioli, and Canna.

Walter Pfitzer

CannaR. Wallace

His son, Walter Pfitzer, soon joined the business and served an apprenticeship with his father, and then for a period of seven years, he worked for the famous Louis Van Houtte nursery in Ghent, Belgium, and others in Holland, France and northern Germany, acquiring a rich experience he was able to bring with him when he returned to the family business along with many specimens of exotic plants.

Canna listed in 1866 catalogue

Through reliability and industry, the business acquired loyal buyers and market traders for their products. A first seed and bulb catalogue was published, thus increasing business. With his wife, Friedericke, née Schickler, he extended the nursery around the vegetable and flower seed trades.

CannaKönigen Charlotte

During the  1860’s Pfitzer acquired Canna material from Herr Ehmann, also a Stuttgart nurseryman and for whom the much-favoured Canna ‘Ehmanni’ is named. That was the start of the serious involvement of the house of Pfitzer with the Canna genus.

By 1880, the breeding of gladioli in pure colours succeeded for the first time. The new cultivars were introduced on World Fairs. In the long list of the prizes and honours the most notable were Dahlias (230), Gladioli (650), Canna (270), Petunien (400), Geraniums (630), Verbenen (850) and Phlox (500), appearing in Canada, USA, London, Paris, Brussels, Petersburg, Moscow, Hamburg, Dortmund, Bonn, and others.

Paul, Anna & Rudolf Pfitzer in Stadt Fellbach

An early photograph of the workforce and premises of Wilhelm Pfitzer

In 1909, the original property was sold for building as the city expanded and the company looked for new land outside Stuttgart. In 1910 they acquired 5 acres (20,000 m2) of rural land near the railway station at Fellbach, about six miles (10 km) outside Stuttgart. Paul Pfitzer, the eldest son of Walter and Friedericke and brother of Anna and Rudolf, took on the responsibility to construct the new nursery. Offices, warehouse, greenhouse, and nursery beds rapidly emerged.

The land at Fellbach proved to be suitable for the cultivation of tender garden varieties and the business prospered. Above all other lines, the Gladiolus business grew to be larger than the Dahlias, Roses, Phlox, Delphiniums, Begonias, Cannas, and flowering shrubs. The company grew all of these lines and bred new cultivars ceaselessly.

 

World War One

The First World War proven a major setback as valuable breeding material could no longer be obtained. Most of the workforce were conscripted, but later replaced by prisoners of war. 

Inter-war years

CannaGnom

During the inflation years in Germany, 1923-1924 the firm was able to retain its entire workforce, due to their prudent management practices. When financial order was restored in Germany, the firm re-organised and opened new outlets in Göppingen, Ulm, and Heilbronn, selling not only seed and plants but also the latest horticultural equipment, fertilisers and fungicides. A department for bird and dog lines was added at the same time. The seed and bulb business was promoted through a coloured catalogue with images of their new cultivars.

Pfitzer Catalogue 1926

Until his death in 1931, Walter Pfitzer was still in demand judging at international fairs, exhibitions, and shows, retaining his Presidency and Vice Presidency of the German and British Gladiolus Societies respectively, right until the end. His continual interest in Cannas meant a steady supply of new cultivars being produced each year.

In 1933, there were about 150 employees worldwide. That same year, in order to laud the elevation of Fellbach to the status of a city, the firm named one of its best seedlings that year as CannaStadt Fellbach’, meaning ‘City of Fellbach’. That is still a popular cultivar in this day and age.

Pfitzer’s Flower Show

CannaStadt Fellbach

Up to the Second World War thousands of visitors from all around the world descended annually on Fellbach to visit Pfitzer’s Flower Show. In addition, a multitude of young apprentices and sons of others in the trade enjoyed training at Fellbach, at what was recognised as one of the leading places of horticultural education in the world at that time.

Gladiolus were still the most important and largest department of the firm, but Canna still provided a steady supply of business as they continued to hybridise new cultivars.

World War Two

CannaTirol

During World War II, most employees were conscripted and the nursery business had to be restricted and relocated. Vegetable type crops were ordered to be grown, regardless of the loss of valuable flowering stock. Head gardeners, too old for military service, had to contend with prisoners of war being billeted at Fellbach, and taught to grow vegetables. This was not onerous for the prisoners as it ensured that they ate much better than other prisoners of war did.

CannaJ.B. van der Schoot

The attempts at saving flowering stock that was carried out directly against the law only met with limited success, and much stock was lost during that time. Much will never be recovered.

Sadly, many “Pfitzeraners” never returned and much knowledge and experience was lost. Some of the worlds leading hybridisers had been working at Fellbach before hostilities.

Post World Wars

CannaTchad

After the war, the company was never able to regain its market share. Hostility to German goods existed for a while in both Europe and the USA, but more important, the neighbouring countries with favourable climates started to predominate. With their more favourable climate, they could produce in one year a harvest, or many harvests, that would take 2-3 years in Fellbach. In addition, the wage costs were more favourable to Mediterranean competitors.

CannaPuck

The firm had to retrench, and wound-up leases on much of its land and reduced its work force. It focussed on just Dahlias, Gladiolus, and Canna. In order to publicise its products to potential customers, many of whom had never heard of the companies’ world-leading reputation, they involved themselves in numberless local and foreign gardening shows, fairs and exhibitions, competing successfully and with distinction. However, by the mid-1980s the firm had diminished in size to just six employees and 2 acres (8,100 m2) of garden beds.

Wine and Roses

Canna ‘Wine and Roses’

(Crozy Group)

Origin SHEPPARD Marcelle
Height Small
Foliage Dark
Form Spreading
Flower Pink
Blooming Outstanding bloomer
Flowering June/July/August/September/October/Until frosts
Tillering Average

Canna ‘Wine and Roses’ is a small Crozy Group cultivar; purple foliage, ovoid shaped, spreading habit; oval main stems, coloured purple + farina; triangular flower stalks, coloured purple; spikes of flowers are open, self-coloured pink, staminodes are large, edges irregular, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, outstanding 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 purple; tillering is average.

Canna ‘Wine and Roses’ Credit: Marcelle Sheppard
References
Rivendell Botanic Garden, List January 2001
Hot pink flowers; leaves red, blue and green. Dwarf.

Wine’n Roses

Canna ‘Wine’n Roses’

(Crozy Group)

Origin Quality Gladiolus Gardens
Height Medium
Foliage Dark
Form Spreading
Flower Pink
Blooming Good bloomer
Flowering July/August/September/October/Until frosts
Tillering Slow

Canna ‘Wine’n Roses’ is a medium sized Crozy Group cultivar; dark foliage, oblong shaped, acute apex, maroon margin, spreading habit; oval main stems, coloured purple; clusters of flowers are open, self-coloured rose, throat yellow, staminodes are medium size, edges frilled, style is yellow, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in July 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 pink and purple; tillering is slow.

References
Ian Cooke, The Gardeners Guide to Growing Cannas
(M) This cultivar bears a similarity to ‘Red Wine’. Blossoms are large and coloured a deep rose-red over dark burgundy foliage. From specialist nurseries, and at present generally only in he USA.
Huge blossoms of deep rose on beautiful burgundy ovate leaves. Flowers are nested in the very tip of the 3 to 3·5 foot plants.
Hart Canna, 2003, Internet January 2003
Recent American variety. Medium height. Bronze foliage. Pale rose-pink flowers with a darker centre. £8.00 for pack of 3 rhizomes.
Claines Canna Collection 2006
Summary: Ovate burgundy leaves, tinted with green, topped by huge deep rose blossoms, crimpled petals, and a touch of yellow in the throat.
Size: Medium height.
Flower: Hugh deep rose blossoms, crimpled petals, touch of yellow in the throat.
Foliage: Ovate burgundy leaves, tinted with green.

Wintzers Colossal

Canna ‘Wintzer’s Colossal’

(Italian Group)

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

Canna ‘Wintzer’s Colossal’ is a tall Italian Group cultivar; green foliage, oblong shaped, obtuse apex, branching habit; round main stems, coloured green; oval flower stalks, coloured green; clusters of flowers are open, self-coloured scarlet, staminodes are large, edges irregular, petals green, fully self-cleaning, average 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 purple; tillering is average.

Images courtesy of Alice Harris
References
Conard & Jones Catalogue, 1915
6 ft. Without doubt the largest flowered Canna to date, as the average flowers more than cover a man’s hat. With its superior substance it seems to revel in the hot sunshine with impunity. The color is a strikingly vivid scarlet that retains its brilliancy. Generous green foliage. For size, color and endurance, Wintzer’s Colossal is not only a veritable prize-winner, but far ahead of its nearest rival.
Inter-State Nurseries, Hamburg, Iowa, USA. Catalogue 1939
Wintzer’s Colossal – Vivid scarlet, green foliage. 5 feet.
The I.W. Scott Co., Pittsburgh. PA, USA, Catalogue 1939
Remarkable for its exceptionally large, broad petalled flowers, often measuring 8 inches across. Deep scarlet with light green foliage. Height 5 feet.
Breck's Catalogue, 1945
Wintzer’s Colossal. Vivid scarlet, green foliage. 5 feet.
Garden Flowers in Color by Daniel J. Foley
6 feet. Bright scarlet.
Dr. Khoshoo & Dr. I. Guha: Evolution of Cultivated Canna 1966
x orchiodes, tall (80-160cm), foliage green, broad staminodia (5-7 cm) self coloured. In the collection of the Royal Agri-Horticultural Society , Alipore, Calcutta, India.
Canna Handbook, Keith Hayward. Edition 1.06. © September 2000
A Wintzer. A giant plant (over 2m). Large leathery green leaves with red stem nodes. Large semi-closed (tulip shaped) orange/red flowers.
Ian Cooke, The Gardeners Guide to Growing Cannas
(T) A classic cultivar, not surprisingly raised by Wintzer. It makes an enormous plant with gigantic, deep crimson flowers and massive paddle-like green leaves. Well worth growing to make a strong statement! Available from specialist nurseries.
Podgora Gardens, Sonja Mrsich, North Island, New Zealand. Catalogue
Deep crimson. 100cm.
KAVB International Canna Checklist, September 2004
A. Wintzer; flowers tomato-red (RHS 45B), leaves green, height over 80 cm.
Karchesky and Harris 2006
Gorgeous large structured canna. Enormous velvety rich red blooms and dark budstems. Largest flower head of all cannas. Large green leaves with a dark red edge. Tall height. Origin: Pennsylvania’s Canna Master, Leon Wintzer.
Gardeners Chronicle of America
Mr. Wintzer is the originator, and the Conard & Jones Company the introducer of such varieties as ‘The President’, Mrs. Alfred F. Conard’, ‘City of Portland’, ‘American Beauty’, ‘Statue of Liberty’, Wintzer’s Colossal and of ‘Sears (?) Queen’, ‘Flag of Truce’ and a host of others