Canna lily (Canna indica)

Canna lily is a garden escape particularly in frost-free areas. It has vigorous underground stems.

Profile

How does this weed affect you?

Canna lily is regarded as an environmental weed in NSW and south eastern Queensland. It can form large dense clumps, particularly along waterways, and replaces native species. 

What does it look like?

Canna lily is a clumping plant up to 2 m tall. The leaves are up to 45 cm long and 25 cm wide. Flowers may be red or yellow or occasionally red with yellow spots or yellow with red spots. The fruit is a papery, oval capsule up to 3 cm long.

How does it spread?

Canna lily spreads by seed and vegetatively via its thick, branching rhizomes (underground stems). Seed can be spread by birds that eat the fruit, flowing water and by people dumping garden waste. 

References

PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney. Retrieved 23 January 2023 from https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Canna~indica

Richardson FJ, Richardson RG and Shepherd RCH (2006). Weeds of the south-east an identification guide for Australia. RG and FJ Richardson, Melbourne.

More information

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Control

Herbicide options

WARNING - ALWAYS READ THE LABEL
Users of agricultural or veterinary chemical products must always read the label and any permit, before using the product, and strictly comply with the directions on the label and the conditions of any permit. Users are not absolved from compliance with the directions on the label or the conditions of the permit by reason of any statement made or not made in this information. To view permits or product labels go to the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority website www.apvma.gov.au

See Using herbicides for more information.


PERMIT 9907 Expires 31/03/2025
Glyphosate 360 g/L (Various products)
Rate: 1 part glyphosate to 50 parts water
Comments: Spot spay. Apply as foliar application. Spray regrowth after slashing.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: M, Inhibitors of EPSP synthase
Resistance risk: Moderate


Picloram 44.7 g/L + Aminopyralid 4.47 g/L (Vigilant II ®)
Rate: Undiluted
Comments: Cut stump application. Apply a 3–5 mm layer of gel across the cut surface on the rhizome.
Withholding period: Nil.
Herbicide group: I, Disruptors of plant cell growth (synthetic auxins)
Resistance risk: Moderate


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Biosecurity duty

The content provided here is for information purposes only and is taken from the Biosecurity Act 2015 and its subordinate legislation, and the Regional Strategic Weed Management Plans (published by each Local Land Services region in NSW). It describes the state and regional priorities for weeds in New South Wales, Australia.

Area Duty
All of NSW General Biosecurity Duty
All pest plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.

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For technical advice and assistance with identification please contact your local council weeds officer.

Reviewed 2014