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.
