Product Overview
Hardy Water Canna aka Hardy Bird of Paradise (Thalia dealbata)
The tropical looking, bluish-green, glaucus (covered with a whitish, grayish or bluish powdery overcast) leaves accent the water garden nicely. The leaves are a cross between a canna and a bird of paradise is appearance, which leads to at least 2 different common names, hardy water canna and hardy bird of paradise, although the flowers do not resemble either! (Some people simply call it hardy Thalia, to distinguish it from the tropical Thalia species.) Unusual small purple flowers appear in late summer on a tall bloom spike, well above the foliage. To over-winter Thalia Dealbata, drop it deep enough into the water so the roots do not freeze. US native.
Hardiness Zone: 5-10
Planting Container: We recommend a 10" x 6" fabric pot to grow a regular sized plant, or a 12.5" x 7" or 15" x 6" fabric pot to grow a specimen sized plant. The larger pots are preferred, as Thalia dealbata easily grows into a specimen sized plant. Click on any fabric pot link to read about why fabric pots work better than hard plastic pots!
Light Requirements: full sun to part shade
Height: 2' to 6' - Spread: 24"
Water Depth: Moist Soil or water up to 6" deep (Maximum water depth is for mature bog plants)
FERTILIZING: For best health and growth, we recommend fertilizing regularly (unless using the plants in a plant filtration system!). Use Pondtabbs 20 count, 60 count, or 300 count for fast release, or Aquascape 6 count or 12 count capsules for slow release (once a year) fertilizing. Aquascape is preferred for low maintenance, but Pondtabbs are useful in Spring when Aquascape is slow to start in low temperatures. Pondtabbs are also useful for a quick extra nutrient push for extra bloom, and for mid-summer fertilizing of a new plant (we don't recommend using slow release fertilizer in mid-summer or later in cold climates, as plants should run out of fertilizer at the end of the year to encourage dormancy in cold climates).
Plants are shipped bare root or in starter pots, and will require planting upon arrival. For in depth planting and care instructions visit our Planting and Care Instructions for Shallow Water and Bog Plants.
For information on using plants for pond filtration, please read our blog on this topic!
