In southern states (zone 7-10) where the ground doesn't freeze below four to six inches, cannas can be left in the ground all winter. Cut foliage down to the ground and if needed, cover flowerbed with six to twelve inches of grass clippings, leaves, compost, hay straw, etc. Cannas can be thinned in the spring every two to three years by digging out thick areas of bulbs to allow spacing between the plants.

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The 6' row of these against the wooden fence of my backyard is in full bloom. It's July and with the flower and stem they are 6 feet tall. A couple are almost 7 feet because they are taller than the fence. I had sprayed them regularly with Sevin to keep caterpillars away, but we just had 3 weeks of off and on rain that interrupted my spraying regiment, and this week there were signs of caterpillar invasion. It's raining less, so I cut the rolled buggy leaves and started spraying again. Cutting them to the ground after they flower encourages new growth from the rhizomes and I get a fall display of flowers again here in zone 9.

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