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.
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.
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.
A DISCUSSION ON ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE CANNACEAE FAMILY; OF INTEREST TO GARDENERS, COLLECTORS, AND PROFESSIONALS ALIKE.
