Edible Canna

For the last few years i’ve read the Oregon Exotics catalog and been captivated by the Canna descriptions. They describe a cool hardy plant that is fast growing, reliable, producing flowers and a huge edible root. Sound too good to be true.

Looking deeper I found the plant goes by many different names and is used differently in different countries. In the USA only the flowers are popular. In South America, Australia, and parts of Asia it is a food crop. In Europe the flowers were popular at one time then gardeners lost interest. As the Canna moved it was bred in many different ways and different names used. Most of the flowering types are not edible.

The edible Canna go by the names: Canna Achira (South America) Canna Edulis (obsolete name) Canna indica (scientific name) Purple arrowroot (Australia) Queensland arrowroot (Europe?)

GROWING: canna prefer moist soil at 77F degrees. Stops growing at temperatures below 50F. In cultivation it is 3-5 feet tall. Goes dormant in cold areas and must be dug if ground freezes. Propagated by divisions (not true from seed). Can be grown on poor or marginal land according to one source (other sources disagree).

HARVESTING: The root grows near the surface and can be dug at any time. Roots are washed, pealed then either baked or dried. The leaves and stalks can be used as greens and the seeds eaten like beans.

EATING: Tubers are 14 percent sugar and very starchy. They become sweet when baked and are often used like potatoes. The tubers are used commercially. In Asia the tubers are often made into noodles.

HISTORY: the following was taken from: The Gardeners Guide to Growing Canna by: Ian Cooke Canna has been grown in South America for over 5000 years. Older literature calls the edible canna “C. Edulis” but today the more common name C. indica is used.

Flower lovers have crossed C. indica with many other canna and that is what can be found in most catalogs.

DESCRIPTION: flowers red and yellow 1.5 to 2.5 inches long. stalks purple. each flower has 8 parts with 3 staminoides or more. banana like leaves.

Jeff Owens (jko@bctonline.com)