Overview

Embark on a unique gardening journey with our premium achira canna rhizome, also known as the african arrowroot plant (Canna indica syn. edulis). This offering is for a bare root starter rhizome, ready to grow into a robust and visually stunning plant. The edible canna indica is cherished not only for its striking ornamental value, featuring beautiful variegated leaves and bright orange flowers, but also for its nutritious, starchy rhizomes. This easy-to-care-for plant thrives in various conditions and is a fantastic addition to any garden, providing both aesthetic appeal and a unique food source. Our organic canna plant care guide ensures you’ll have all the information needed to cultivate a successful crop, whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting out.

The achira canna rhizome is a resilient perennial, known for its rapid growth and ability to naturalize in suitable climates. It’s an excellent choice for gardeners looking for a low-maintenance yet high-impact plant. The plant’s versatility allows for cultivation in garden beds, containers, or even as a marginal aquatic plant. Discover the joy of growing your own edible roots while enjoying the tropical flair this plant brings to your landscape. This organic offering ensures you’re planting a healthy, chemical-free start to your edible garden.

Key Benefits

The achira canna rhizome offers a multitude of benefits for both the gardener and the garden itself. Its ease of cultivation and diverse uses make it a highly desirable plant.

• Edible Rootstock: The primary benefit is its delicious and nutritious rhizomes, which can be harvested and used as a starchy vegetable, similar to potatoes or sweet potatoes. It’s a great way to incorporate a unique food source into your diet.
• Stunning Ornamental Value: Beyond its culinary uses, the african arrowroot plant boasts vibrant orange flowers and attractive variegated foliage, bringing a tropical and exotic feel to any garden space.
• Low Maintenance: This plant is remarkably easy to grow and requires minimal attention once established, making it ideal for busy gardeners or those new to plant cultivation. Our canna plant care instructions make it even simpler.
• Pest and Disease Resistant: The edible canna indica is naturally robust and generally resistant to common garden pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical interventions.
• Versatile Planting Options: It can be grown in garden beds, large containers, or even as a pond margin plant, adapting well to various garden designs and spaces.
• Rapid Growth: Experience quick results as the canna grows rapidly, quickly filling out garden spaces with lush foliage and abundant blooms.
• Organic and Sustainable: Our rhizomes are organically grown, ensuring you receive a product free from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, contributing to a healthier environment.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Proper canna plant care is essential for a thriving achira canna rhizome. While generally trouble-free, understanding its basic needs will ensure vigorous growth and abundant harvests. This plant prefers a location with ample sunlight. For best results, plant your african arrowroot plant in a spot that receives at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. It can tolerate partial shade, but flowering and rhizome development may be reduced. Ensure the soil is consistently moist but well-draining. Cannas are heavy feeders, so enriching the soil with organic matter before planting is beneficial. Regular watering is crucial, especially during dry spells, but avoid waterlogging which can lead to rhizome rot. The plant will die back in frost but typically reappears in the spring if the ground does not freeze solid.

When it comes to soil, the edible canna indica thrives in rich, fertile, well-draining soil. A slightly acidic to neutral pH is ideal. Fertilize every 4-6 weeks during the growing season with a balanced organic fertilizer to support its vigorous growth and flowering. In regions with cold winters (USDA zones below 7), the rhizomes can be dug up after the first frost, stored in a cool, dry, frost-free place, and replanted in spring. This ensures the longevity of your organic canna plant. Watch out for slugs and snails, which can occasionally nibble on young foliage, but otherwise, this plant is quite resilient.

For gardeners looking to maximize their harvest of achira canna rhizome, consider planting in raised beds where soil conditions can be more easily controlled. Mulching around the base of the plant helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds. Deadheading spent flowers can encourage more blooms, though for rhizome production, the plant’s energy will naturally be directed downwards once flowering is complete. Remember that consistent moisture and nutrients are key for a productive african arrowroot plant. Following these simple canna plant care tips will lead to a beautiful and bountiful garden.

Size & Details

This offering includes one bare root starter achira canna rhizome, carefully selected for viability and ready for planting. The size of the rhizome will vary, but each is guaranteed to be healthy and ready to grow. Upon planting, expect the edible canna indica to grow rapidly, reaching heights of 3 to 6 feet within a single growing season under optimal conditions. The spread can be similar, forming dense clumps of foliage. These plants are typically started in spring and will begin producing their distinctive variegated leaves and orange flowers by mid-summer.

The rhizomes will multiply underground, allowing for future propagation and expansion of your organic canna plant collection. While we do not guarantee specific size or appearance upon arrival, we ensure the viability of each rhizome. This product is designed to provide a strong foundation for a robust and productive african arrowroot plant in your garden for years to come. Full maturity for rhizome harvest typically occurs after one full growing season.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big does this plant get? A: The achira canna rhizome can grow to an impressive height of 3 to 6 feet tall and spread equally wide, forming lush clumps of foliage and flowers. Its size can vary based on growing conditions and climate.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: The african arrowroot plant is primarily an outdoor plant, thriving in full sun to partial shade in garden beds. In colder climates, the rhizomes can be dug up and stored indoors over winter.
• Q: How much sunlight does it need? A: For optimal growth and flowering, your edible canna indica requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. It can tolerate some shade, but performance may be reduced.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, this organic canna plant is known for being relatively easy to care for, making it suitable for gardeners of all experience levels. It’s quite resilient and trouble-free with basic attention to water and light.
• Q: What condition will it arrive in? A: You will receive a bare root starter achira canna rhizome. It will be carefully packaged to ensure it arrives viable and ready to grow, along with instructions for planting.
• Q: Can I eat the roots of this plant? A: Yes, the rhizomes of the edible canna indica are indeed edible and are often referred to as African arrowroot. They can be cooked and prepared in various ways, similar to other starchy root vegetables.
• Q: When is the best time to plant this rhizome? A: The best time to plant your african arrowroot plant rhizome is in the spring after all danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. This allows for a full growing season.
• Q: Will it survive winter in my zone? A: In USDA zones 7 and above, the achira canna rhizome can often overwinter in the ground with proper mulching. In colder zones, it’s recommended to dig up the rhizomes after the first frost and store them indoors until spring.
• Q: How long until it blooms? A: Typically, the organic canna plant will start to produce its vibrant orange flowers by mid-summer, several weeks after planting, and continue blooming until the first frost.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer for the best canna plant care? A: It thrives in rich, fertile, and well-draining soil. Amending with compost or other organic matter will greatly benefit the growth and yield of your achira canna rhizome.