Tall South American canna species with broad banana-like leaves and small orange-red flowers, grown across the Andean lowlands for the large starchy edible rhizomes — the source of "Queensland arrowroot" starch.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 7–11 | −17.8 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H3 | −5 °C to 1 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 8–9 | −7 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 3–7 | −5 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Native to South America — domesticated in the Andean foothills, now grown widely in the tropics for the starchy rhizomes
- Edible rhizomes — boiled or roasted whole, or extracted as fine arrowroot-style starch used in Asian noodles (Vietnamese miến) and gluten-free baking
- Distinct from ornamental garden canna (Canna × generalis already in the database) — C. edulis is grown for the food rhizome rather than for show
- Tolerates light frost to top growth — rhizomes survive in the ground
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Achira (Edible canna) against your zones