Canna 'Cleopatra'- Medium height plant. Most of the petals are yellow with red speckles but can be marked with solid red ranging from a streak to a full petal. Dark green foliage is marked with bronze-red variegation varying from a streak to a full leaf. Grows very well in water. Zones 8 and higher.

Cannas are herbaceous perennials closely related to gingers, bananas, heliconias and birds or paradise. Cannas do well over most of the U.S. provided there is plenty of summer heat. Cannas grow from rhizomes (bulbs). They are easy to plant and easy to grow. Their flowers come in a wide variety of colors including red, orange, yellow, pink and fuchsia. They have long, heliconia or banana-like leaves giving them a very tropical look. Cannas should be treated like other tropical plants; plant in spring after chance of last frost and dig before first hard freeze in fall. The bulbs can be stored over winter in a cool dry place like caladiums, dahlias, gladioli, or other bulbs. Of course in Zones 10 and higher they will thrive and flower all year. In Zones 8 and 9, leaves will freeze back but "bulb" will overwinter safely in ground, if well-drained. Cannas do best in full sun, but will do nicely in partial shade. Because of their succulent leaves, Cannas can be attractive to moths and butterflies. The resulting caterpillars can be picked off or controlled with safe insecticide treatments. Cannas are easy to keep pristine looking by removing spent flowers and seedpods and trimming unsightly leaves. Also bees, butterflies, moths and hummingbirds are attracted to Canna flowers.