During the summer, these plants like light and water. In the winter, they like it dry, so bring them inside when it gets cold.
It’s easy to prune canna lilies. Here are the general rules, and we’ll go into more detail on the pruning process below:
Cannas are stunning tropical flowers that add vibrant colors and bold textures to gardens. Their large, banana-like leaves and showy blooms instantly draw attention. Though most cannas thrive through summer, their foliage starts to decline when cooler weather arrives in fall. Knowing when to cut back cannas properly prepares them for winter and ensures healthy growth the following season.
Why Cut Back Cannas
Cannas are tender perennials that grow from rhizomes. Their aboveground foliage dies back after the first hard frost. Cutting back the dead leaves and stems keeps your garden looking tidy going into winter. It also helps prevent diseases from taking hold on the decaying plant matter.
Proper cutting back also removes the energy drain of supporting lifeless foliage so the plant can direct resources to the roots. This strengthens the rhizomes to generate vigorous new growth in spring.
When to Cut Back Cannas
Timing is important when cutting back cannas. Do it too soon and you sacrifice the plant’s ability to store nutrients. Wait too long and you allow diseases to spread to the rhizomes.
After the First Hard Frost
Cannas are extremely tender tropicals. Light frosts damage their foliage, while hard freezing temperatures turn the leaves black. The ideal time for cutting cannas back is within a few days after the first hard frost when the foliage looks fully dead.
Cutting back immediately after the kill-off frost ensures plants transmit the maximum stored energy to the roots before diseases take hold It also gives time for the rhizomes to heal any nicks from cutting before going dormant.
Don’t Cut it Back Too Soon!
The temptation to tidy up fading foliage by cutting back cannas in late summer or fall should be resisted. The leaves may look unattractive, but they are still actively storing nutrients the plant needs through winter.
Premature cutting back stresses cannas and weakens their rhizomes. This can lead to reduced winter survival rates, delayed spring emergence, and smaller blooms. Wait for freezing damage before removing foliage.
How to Cut Back Cannas Properly
Use clean, sharp pruners or loppers when cutting back cannas. Start by removing all dead foliage. Then cut back the remaining stems to around 4 to 6 inches above soil level.
Remove All Dead Foliage
The first step is clearing away any fully dead leaves that have turned brown or black from frost damage. Pulling off the dead foliage helps prevent diseases and pests from moving to the rhizomes.
Grab spent leaves near their base and yank down to strip them from stems. Dead material usually pulls off easily. Remove every trace of damaged foliage until only healthy green stems remain.
Prune Stems Down to 4-6 Inches
After cleaning away all dead foliage, use a pair of clean, sharp bypass pruners or loppers to cut back the stems to around 4-6 inches above the ground. Dwarf cannas can be trimmed to 2-3 inches.
Cut at an angle above healthy buds or nodes to allow new shoots to generate from there next spring. Remove any dangling stem pieces for a clean cut.
Add Winter Mulch in Colder Climates
In temperate or colder climates, protect rhizomes after cutting back cannas by mounding on 4-6 inches of shredded bark, leaves, straw, or other organic mulch over the crown. This insulates roots from hard freezes.
Remove mulch in spring once frost danger has passed. Let the soil warm up before new sprouts emerge through the ground.
Other Important Times to Prune Cannas
Along with cutting back cannas in fall, pruning occasionally during the growing season keeps plants looking their best.
Remove Spent Flowers
Deadhead fading blooms back to the nearest healthy leaf node to divert the plant’s energy into making new flowers instead of seeds. This extends the flowering period.
Prune Damaged Foliage
Yellow or browning leaves can be pruned anytime to maintain an attractive appearance. Only remove one or two at a time to avoid stressing the plant.
Control Size
In small gardens, trim back overgrown cannas by 1/3 midsummer to contain their spread. Remove any floppy, unsightly outer growth.
Caring for Cannas After Cutting Back
After cutting back cannas for winter, take steps to help the rhizomes stay healthy in order to grow back vigorously next season.
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Dig up rhizomes after cutting back to store indoors in climates colder than zone 8. Replant in spring after the last frost.
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Leave rhizomes in the ground in zones 8-10 but protect with mulch if temperatures drop below freezing.
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Water rhizomes once or twice over winter if rainfall is lacking. Don’t let them dry out completely.
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Divide congested rhizomes every 2-3 years in early spring to rejuvenate the plants.
Proper cutting back of cannas at the right time prevents disease, tidies the garden, and allows the plants to survive winter. Follow these guidelines for best results in preparing cannas for their dormant period. With a little care, they will return bigger and brighter next season.
When To Cut Back Canna Lilies
You can prune canna lilies throughout the year when they need a little spruce up.
You should also prune them back hard as winter is setting in.
| Difficulty | Easy |
| Equipment Required | Scissors or secateurs (shears) |
| When To Prune | Typically late Autumn |
Check Plant Condition
When pruning canna lilies you’re looking for unhealthy leaves or leaf sections.
You can cut off brown, wilted parts of healthy leaves without hurting the rest of the leaves, which will make the plant look healthier overall.
You can also remove entire leaves if the whole thing is looking worse for wear.
If the plant’s leaves are all brown, you might want to start over for the next season (see step four).
If the flowers on your canna lily are about to fall off, you can cut them back to make room for new growth.
In this first step, just give your plant a visual once-over to figure out what needs doing.
When to cut and deadhead cannas
FAQ
Do you cut down cannas back in winter?
How to keep canna lilies blooming all summer?
When should I cut back cannas?
You can cut the stalks after lifting, too, if you find it easier! When cutting cannas back in the late fall, wait until after the big frost comes. The plants will suffer from the frost. This is a great time to cut them back. Start cutting back cannas for winter using sharp and sturdy pruners to cut down the flower and leaf stalks.
Can you cut back a Canna plant?
It’s essential to avoid cutting back the plant until the first frost hits. The frost will kill your Canna’s foliage, so wait another day or two for the leaves to dry out and start turning. The plant has gathered all the resources it can for the winter, and it’s safe to cut it back.
When should I cut back canna lilies?
Cut back canna lilies ready for winter when the weather has cooled in fall and the leaves start to dry out. Wait as long as you can for the stems to dry off and die back. This will allow the rhizome to absorb the nutrients back into the rhizome. This will give you a strong rhizome ready for next year’s growth.