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Canna Seed - difficult to buy

KiliKili Posts: 1,104
in Plants
Hi all, hope your all well.  :)

Can you help please? I would like to try growing canna from seed for next year as a backdrop in annual flower borders but it seems difficult to find seed to buy online.

I've tried Dobies, T&M etc.. to no avail .I did find some at Marshalls but they only grow to 18".
the type I'm after are similar to the image below with the dark leaf and eventually a tall red flower stem. Does anyone know where I can buy seed please?



Thank you for your help

Regards
Kili

'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

George Bernard Shaw'

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Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    http://www.hartcanna.co.uk/catalogue.html#seeds
    Devon.
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,104
    edited October 2018
    Thanks Hostafan1, much appreciated. These are rizhomes. I did not realise that they were a rizhome so I assume propagation can also be by splitting the tuber if you have a mature plant. However I understand that they can be propagated by seed which I would like to do. The tubers seem quite expensive.

    Once again many thanks
    Kili

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

  • HazybHazyb Posts: 336
    There are some here but not sure if they are the ones you want.

    https://www.chilternseeds.co.uk/search?q=Canna
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Generally it's just the species forms which reliably set viable seed. "Varieties" are propagated by divisions.
    Devon.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I've just looked more closely at my own link, you're right, not seeds but if you contact them I'm sure they do sell seeds: they certainly used to sell them.
    Devon.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    The ones Chiltern sell are species, the ones on Hosta's link are mostly not, but if you read their FAQs it tells you all you  need to know about them. I'm guessing there will be more stock for the 2019  season.

    I'm trying to fight off temptation, as I think they would look great in my 'Dell', currently in the throes of being (re)developed, but tropical was in no way part of the plan, it is supposed to be 'wildflower plus'!
    I've seen a Hedychium I fancied too... but sadly the greenhouse is not elastic and it is already stuffed every winter!
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    Hostafan1 said:
    http://www.hartcanna.co.uk/catalogue.html#seeds
    Thanks for introducing me to a very interesting site Hosta.
    I was thinking about growing some next year and there are some beauties to choose from so I was reading some of their articles.

    Re growing from seed - an extract from their website - 
    • Floral cultivars These are the cannas that are most commonly found in parks, gardens and municipal plantings. They have beautiful flowers and gorgeous foliage. Typically they are around 1.5 meters tall, but some floral types are large plants, up to 2 meters tall while some are quite short, around 0.5 meters. These cannas are propagated by division or rhizomes. There are virtually none that can be grown from seed, firstly because most garden hybrids are sterile and do not produce seeds, and secondly because the few that do produce seeds don't "come true", ie the flower of the seedling is not like the flower of the parent.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Guernsey Donkey2Guernsey Donkey2 Posts: 6,713
    On G.W. last night they visited a gardener with a collection of Cannas. If I am correct he showed the seeds - large and black, and Monty showed how to sow them by cutting a little of the outer shell to reveal the seed inside which he then put into a pot of compost mix.  I don't recall him mentioning how long they took to germinate or mature - if you watch the programme you may be able to pick up more information Kili. If you know someone with Cannas in their garden you may be able to collect some seed from their plants perhaps.
  • KiliKili Posts: 1,104
    edited October 2018
    Thanks for all your help guys. I've emailed the site Hostafan1 posted and asked them if they sell seed.

    I'll check out the Gardnersworld program from last night as well

    Many Thanks

    Kili

    'The power of accurate observation .... is commonly called cynicism by those that have not got it.

    George Bernard Shaw'

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited October 2018
    Guernsey Donkey2 said:
    On G.W. last night they visited a gardener with a collection of Cannas. If I am correct he showed the seeds - large and black, and Monty showed how to sow them by cutting a little of the outer shell to reveal the seed inside which he then put into a pot of compost mix.  I don't recall him mentioning how long they took to germinate or mature - if you watch the programme you may be able to pick up more information Kili. If you know someone with Cannas in their garden you may be able to collect some seed from their plants perhaps.
    If I remember correctly, it was Carol and it was canna brasiliensis ( a species ,not a cultivar ) which had seed. I was half asleep so I might well be wrong.
    Named varieties usually have empty seed pods, if they have them at all.
    @punkdoc grows cannas. He might have some ideas.
    Devon.
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