I attempted to plant yellow cannas in 2003 and I am pretty sure that I overwatered them. The rhizomes never grew the plants. Can anyone tell me the hardiest canna that attracts butterflies and hummingbirds and can be acclimated to Southern California (today was 112.4 degrees).
Thanks,
Chuck
searching for cannas
Holy cow - 112.4?!!! Out here it has been hovering around 103 most days. I dug up the canna patch in my front yard in January because the Brazilian Skipper Butterfly caterpillars shredded them. Dished out rhizomes to relatives and planted others in pots for the back yard. I must have missed a few in the front yard patch because now I have 5 foot cannas again. I have just run of the mill canna that blooms orange and they are out in full sun - they are back to 6 feet tall and doing great. Am sure the Brazilian Skippers will make a meal of them again (much to the dismay of my neat yard neighbors) - but hey, that's why I have them...just to keep the Brazilian Skipper caterpillars happy :o)
~ Cat
I have a bright yellow one called Striped Beauty...
http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/9617/
Cat, Today was much cooler...104.7 degrees.
It is hard to take and I think I have lost some of my plants. It doesn't snow here so the dormancy period is summer. I have never heard of Brazilian Skippers before. I will check my Butterfly book source to see if it occurs here also. Thanks!
SusanLouise,
The cannas are beautiful. Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks again,
Chuck
Chuck,
According to BAMONA the Brazilian Skipper is found in Riverside County :o)
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=2169
~ Cat
Here's the Brazilian Skipper lifecycle that I did a photodoc on.
http://davesgarden.com/community/blogs/t/TexasPuddyPrint/12566/
Great step by step Cat!! I have seen eggs but not that many before. This year I found out that DH has been cutting the leaves off that looked torn. So I showed him what to look for as he deadheads the cannas (his obsession) lol! He hates to see them with brown blooms. It does make them bloom longer. He is very maticulous (sp) with cutting even the seed pods back below the leaf thing at the bottom so it "hides" it.
Sheila,
I have a friend that grows some cannas and hates that the caterpillars chew them to shreds. I can't make her leave the caterpillars alone! I keep telling her next time she goes on a caterpillar squishing rampage to put them all in a container with some leaves and give me a call - that I'd relocate all the caterpillars to my yard. She sounds just as meticulous if not more so than your DH.
As for the seed pods - some of my cannas produce seeds and others don't - I've not tried to grow them from seed before - has anyone? If so, do the seeds germinate and grow quickly? Am so used to just dividing rhizomes.
~ Cat
We have noticed that some seed pods are empty when they get mature also.
Cat, You have convinced me!!! I am getting some cannas in Fall. The photo life story of the Brazilian Skipper that you presented was very thorough. I am majoring in Digital Photography at the local community college. I am hoping that I can do something as good as this.
Thanks for sharing,
Chuck
Great Chuck!!!
Thanks :o)
I'll have to see if any of the local community colleges here offer digital photography classes - I never even thought of that. I really need to learn how to use my cameras properly - I keep buying a new camera each year and never get around to learning all the tricks of the trade!
~ Cat