Characteristics
| Hardiness zone | 9b |
|---|---|
| Flower color | scarlet |
| Foliage type | evergreen |
| Plant form | towering |
| Mature height | 3 feet |
| Spread | 20 inches |
| Light requirements | full sun |
| Moisture requirements | moist to wet |
| Plant origin | import |
Indian Shot
Botanical name: Canna indica
A naturalized variety with showy scarlet flowers above coarse textured medium green leaves; globular black seeds resemble shotgun pellets, and are used as beads; perfect for containers, or pondside; perennial only where roots don’t freeze.
Ornamental Features
Indian Shot features bold spikes of scarlet flag-like flowers at the ends of the stems from early summer to mid fall. Its attractive large pointy leaves remain green in color throughout the year. The fruit is not ornamentally significant.
Landscape Attributes
Indian Shot is an herbaceous evergreen perennial with a rigidly upright and towering form. Its wonderfully bold, coarse texture can be very effective in a balanced garden composition.
This plant will require occasional maintenance and upkeep, and is best cleaned up in early spring before it resumes active growth for the season. It is a good choice for attracting hummingbirds to your yard. Gardeners should be aware of the following characteristic(s) that may warrant special consideration;
Spreading
Indian Shot is recommended for the following landscape applications;
Accent, Mass Planting, General Garden Use, Container Planting
Planting and Growing
Indian Shot will grow to be about 32 inches tall at maturity, with a spread of 20 inches. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 1 foot from the ground. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for approximately 10 years.
This plant should only be grown in full sunlight. It prefers to grow in moist to wet soil, and will even tolerate some standing water. It is not particular as to soil pH, but grows best in rich soils. It is highly tolerant of urban pollution and will even thrive in inner city environments, and will benefit from being planted in a relatively sheltered location. Consider applying a thick mulch around the root zone in winter to protect it in exposed locations or colder microclimates. This species is not originally from North America. It can be propagated by division.
Indian Shot is a fine choice for the garden, but it is also a good selection for planting in outdoor pots and containers. With its upright habit of growth, it is best suited for use as a 'thriller' in the 'spiller-thriller-filler' container combination; plant it near the center of the pot, surrounded by smaller plants and those that spill over the edges. It is even sizeable enough that it can be grown alone in a suitable container. Note that when growing plants in outdoor containers and baskets, they may require more frequent waterings than they would in the yard or garden.
