A Guide to Gorgeous Orange and Yellow Canna Lily Varieties

With their vibrant, tropical blooms and striking foliage, canna lilies lend flair and drama to gardens and landscapes. Among the most eye-catching varieties are those with flowers in brilliant shades of orange and yellow. When paired together, these warm color tones create cheerful, sun-kissed displays.

In this guide, we’ll explore some of the top orange and yellow canna lily cultivars to help you select the perfect ones to brighten your outdoor space. Whether grown in beds, borders, or containers, these summer-blooming beauties are sure to turn heads.

Overview of Orange and Yellow Canna Lilies

Canna lilies comprise a genus of around 20 species with countless hybrids and cultivars available. They are herbaceous perennials that produce flowers atop tall stalks from midsummer until fall frost. Their large tropical-looking leaves provide great visual impact even when not in bloom.

While cannas come in many colors, the orange and yellow varieties are especially striking. Their fiery, sunset-inspired hues exude warmth and vibrancy. Many also have wonderfully contrasting red, pink or peach-colored throats.

When planning your canna lily selection keep in mind

• Height – Dwarf types grow 2-4 feet tall, mid-size 4-6 feet, giants 7+ feet
• Bloom time – Early, mid and late-season bloomers extend the display
• Foliage – Green, bronze, variegated and patterned leaf types
• Combining colors – Orange and yellow cannas pair beautifully together

With hundreds of cannas to choose from, this guide profiles some of the best orange and yellow varieties to help narrow down your options.

Top Orange Canna Lily Varieties

Let’s start with some spectacular orange canna lily cultivars:

‘Tropicanna’

• Brilliant orange petals with peach-pink speckled throat
• Dark leaves with vibrant red-pink veins and splotches
• 4-5 feet tall with abundant blooms
• Thrives in sun to part shade

‘Orange Punch’

• Vibrant tangerine-orange flowers with yellow throat
• Lime green foliage on a dwarf 3-4 foot plant
• Abundant blooms in compact spike flower clusters
• Great for containers

‘Burning Ember’

• Peachy-orange flowers resembling flickering flames
• Bronze-burgundy foliage adds striking contrast
• A dwarf variety under 4 feet tall
• Prolific summer to fall blooms

‘Orange Beauty’

• True orange flowers over blue-green leaves
• Classic, early blooming canna lily variety
• Grows 4-6 feet tall with multiple blooming stalks
• A favorite to attract hummingbirds

‘Wyoming’

• Huge 6-8 inch orange blossoms on tall stalks
• Bronze foliage sets off the bright blooms
• Blooms midsummer to frost up to 6 feet tall
• Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit winner

‘South Pacific Orange’

• Vibrant sunset orange flowers with yellow throat
• Basal branching growth habit great for containers
• 4-5 foot height ideal for borders and pairings
• All-American Selections award winner

Striking Yellow Canna Lily Cultivars

Transitioning to some top-notch yellow cannas:

‘Yellow King Humbert’

• Bright golden yellow flowers with deep red dots
• Bronze foliage adds dramatic contrast
• Blooms summer to fall, reaching 4-5 feet tall
• Well-suited to borders, mass plantings, and containers

‘Florence Vaughan’

• Soft yellow petals with orange flecks and red spots
• Green leaves with maroon tinges at edges
• Prolific bloomer up to 5 feet tall
• Introduced in 1893 and still a classic favorite

‘Golden Butterfly’

• Sunny yellow blossoms with bold orange-peach throat
• Compact 2-3 foot height great for containers
• Early summer to frost bloom period
• Soft, feathery-looking flowers

‘Yellow Dancer’

• Brilliant yellow flowers with a faint red halo
• Sturdy green foliage on a 5-6 foot plant
• Long bloom season from midsummer to frost
• Gorgeous massed in sunny borders

‘Australia’

• Huge 6-8 inch golden blossoms
• Reaches up to 8 feet tall with a bold presence
• Dark green tropical-looking leaves
• Spectacular bloomer for a dramatic backdrop

‘Erebus’

• Pale yellow flowers with speckled orange throat
• Dark bronze-burgundy foliage with hints of purple
• Compact at just 2-3 feet tall
• Striking in containers paired with orange cannas

Designing With Orange and Yellow Cannas

When combined artfully, orange and yellow cannas can create showstopper displays. Here are some design tips:

• Plant en masse for bold color impact. Taller orange varieties make an excellent backdrop for shorter yellows.

• Edge gardens and borders with a continuous band of one color, or alternate between orange and yellow.

• Use purple foliage plants like ‘Black Knight’ butterfly bush as accent plants to make the warm colors pop.

• Underplant orange and yellow cannas with blue or white flowering annuals like lobelia, alyssum, or cosmos.

• Site them near blue or purple garden flowers like hydrangeas, salvia, and globe amaranth.

• Grow orange and yellow canna varieties in patio containers for a tropical look. Include elephant ears.

• Use cannas to fill empty spots for continuous color after spring bulbs are done blooming.

With some creativity, you can design spectacular displays showcasing your favorite orange and yellow canna lily varieties.

Growing and Caring for Orange and Yellow Cannas

Cannas are easy to grow, but providing optimal care will ensure the best flower production and plant health. Here are key growing and care tips:

• Plant cannas in full sun to light shade in fertile, well-draining soil. Shelter from strong winds.

• Water cannas regularly to keep soil consistently moist. Avoid waterlogged soil.

• Apply a balanced fertilizer monthly during the growing season for lush growth.

• Pinch off spent blooms to prolong the flowering period into fall.

• Mulch cannas in cold climates for winter protection and lift bulbs to store indoors in very cold zones.

• Divide crowded clumps every 2-3 years in spring to rejuvenate flowering.

• Watch for earwigs, slugs, and spider mites which may attack cannas.

With proper siting, irrigation, fertilization, and pest management, orange and yellow cannas will thrive and produce their signature bold displays.

12 Fantastic Orange and Yellow Canna Lily Variety Combinations

Here are some delightful pairing ideas to inspire your canna lily selection:

• ‘Australia’ yellow with ‘Wyoming’ orange
• ‘Yellow King Humbert’ with ‘Burning Ember’
• ‘Florence Vaughan’ combined with ‘Tropicanna’
• ‘Golden Butterfly’ and ‘Orange Punch’
• ‘Yellow Dancer’ alongside ‘South Pacific Orange’
• ‘Erebus’ yellow paired with ‘Orange Beauty’
• ‘Australia’ as backdrop to ‘Tangerine’ and ‘Burning Ember’
• Short yellow ‘Yellow Butterfly’ fronted by tall orange ‘Stuttgart’
• ‘Yellow King Humbert’ and ‘Pretoria’ for foliage contrast
• ‘Florence Vaughan’ underplanted with orange and dark purple annuals
• Silver-leafed plants like dusty miller to highlight ‘Tropicanna’
• Orange and yellow cannas in dramatic container pairings

Have fun playing with color combinations and layouts to design your ideal orange and yellow canna lily displays.

Bring Vibrant Summer Color With Orange and Yellow Cannas

With their gloriously bright hues and tropical appeal, orange and yellow canna lilies are sure to ignite your landscape or containers with summertime excitement. Their vivid blooms, striking foliage, and bold presence lend festive excitement to gardens.

Hopefully this guide has provided inspiration to help select captivating cannas in sunset-inspired shades. A pairing of orange and yellow varieties can infuse plantings with joy and warmth. With a little planning and proper care, these easy-growing perennials will soon become star players in your outdoor space, wowing onlookers with their brilliant beauty.