Canna Richard Wallace, also known as Canna King Midas and Canna Canary Bird, is a vigorous rhizomatous perennial in the Cannaceae family. It forms an upright, bushy clump around 120 to 150 cm high and 30 to 60 cm wide, with multiple leafy shoots rising from a dense underground rhizome.
Large apple-Green Lanceolate to Oblong leaves create a lush architectural framework. Upright branching flower stems carry clear Yellow Irregular flowers with lightly frilled segments and small Orange to Red markings close to the throat and petal bases. Flowers open from midsummer into autumn, followed by Green Capsules that mature Brown to Black.
Grow in full sun in fertile, moist but well-drained Loam or Sand with shelter from strong wind. Water freely during active growth and apply a high-potassium feed while flower stems are developing. In colder gardens, lift the rhizomes after frost has blackened the foliage and store them frost-free in barely moist material until replanting.
Propagate by division in early spring and deadhead faded clusters to maintain a tidy display. Watch for aphids, mites, slugs, snails, caterpillars, lesser canna leafroller, Japanese beetles, and symptoms of canna virus. Prevent rhizome rot by avoiding stagnant winter moisture.