Is canna lily a perennial?

Cannas (*Canna* × *generalis* hybrids and species) are tropical perennials that survive in the ground year-round in USDA zones 8–11. In zones 3–7, the rhizomes are killed by freezing soil temperatures and must be dug each fall and stored indoors. In zone 7a Long Island (my zone),

Canna lily occupies the same practical category as dahlias and tuberous begonias — technically perennial, but requiring winter storage in most of the US. Understanding this distinction will save you money and help you build an expanding collection over the years.

This article contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases - at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we have personally tested or that are the universal first recommendation from university Extension publications. See our full disclosure.

What cannas actually are

Cannas are not true lilies — the "lily" in the name refers to the bold tropical foliage and showy flowers, not botanical relationship. Per Missouri Botanical Garden, the garden canna (Canna × generalis) is a "tender rhizomatous perennial" native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas and Asia. The rhizome (a thick, fleshy horizontal underground stem) is the storage organ that allows the plant to persist year after year when protected from frost.