Botanical name : |
Canna indica |
Family : |
Cannaceae (canna lily) family |
Common name : |
Canna lily |
Also known as : |
Indian shot |
Where is it originally
from? : |
Central and South America |
What does it look like? : |
Erect, leafy perennial herb (to 2 m tall) with thick underground stems (rhizomes) and sturdy, unbranched, green and hairless above-ground stems from which large, green (sometimes purple tinged), oblong leaved (up to 45 cm long x 15 cm wide) with prominent midribs grow. Pinkish-red to reddish-yellow and occasionally yellow or orange-red flowers (5-6 cm long) grow from the top of the stem, often in pairs, followed by round seed capsules (2 cm diameter) containing round black seeds. |
Are there any similar
species? : |
Hedychium gardnerianum (kahili ginger, wild ginger) and H. flavescens (yellow ginger) |
Why is it weedy? : |
Forms tall, dense, long-lived stands that are tolerant of a range of conditions including salt, wind, grazing or other damage, and damp to moderately dry conditions. |
How does it spread? : |
Seeds are spread by gravity and water, and pieces of underground stem (rhizome) also form new plants. |
What damage does it do? : |
Replaces all other plants on the ground, preventing natural regeneration, often leading to the invasion of weedy vines. It can remove water from damp habitats. |
Which habitats is
it likely to invade? : |
Damp sites with high light in frost-free localities: wetlands, river margins, gullies, disturbed shrublands, forest margins, coastal areas. |
What can I do to get
rid of it? : |
1. Dig out scattered plants (all year round). remove all roots and rhizomes and dispose of at a refuse transfer station.
2. Cut stems and paint: metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (1g) + glyphosate (50ml) + penetrant/1L water, or a 3-5mm layer of Vigilant gel. Mulch the leaves and dispose of seeds at a refuse transfer station.
3. Overall spray (spring-summer): metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (2g) + glyphosate (100ml) + penetrant/10L water. |
What can I do to
stop it coming back? : |
Fragments remaining in soil will resprout so followup control by digging or spraying is required. Plant the site with local native plants to shade out seedlings. |
