How to Grow and Care for Indian shot

Indian shot, also known as Edible Canna, African Arrowroot, Purple Arrowroot, Sierra Leone Arrowroot

Indian shot is recognized for its robustness and ease of care, thriving in various conditions. Key care requirements include ample sunlight for vibrant blooms and regular watering, ensuring soil remains moist but well-drained. Special care attention involves winter dormancy; in colder regions, rhizomes should be lifted and stored to prevent frost damage. This care point maintains the plant's health during unfavorable seasons and guarantees lush growth in spring.

Watering schedule: Every 1-2 weeks

Sunlight Requirements: Full sun

In This Article

Planting and Growing Indian shot

Toughness	High
Care Level	Medium
Care Difficulty	Easy
Lifespan	Perennial
Watering Schedule	Every 1-2 weeks
Sunlight Requirements	Full sun
Soil pH	6-6.5
Planting Time	Spring
Hardiness Zones	7-12

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Varieties of Indian shot

Indian shot 'Lucifer'

Indian shot 'Lucifer' is a perennial with bright green paddle-shaped leaves and a showy display of hellishly bright red flowers with yellow edges that bloom from summer into early fall. This is a cultivar of Canna indica, bred by SM Growers and named in 2000. Gardeners love this variety to add color and interest growing alongside walls or hedges, and in large patio containers.

Indian shot 'Phasion'

Indian shot 'Phasion' is distinct for its orange flowers and spectacular foliage, which displays stripes of green, violet, strawberry, and orange. A cultivar of Indian shot (Canna indica), it is often displayed as an autumn ornamental, providing an explosion of color when other flowers have begun to wither. It grows up to 1.8 m tall and thrives in large containers.

Indian shot 'Cleopatra'

The indian shot 'Cleopatra' is a very uniquely colored canna lily cultivar, presumably named for the Egyptian queen famed for her unconventional beauty. It is an 'unstable' canna hybrid, expressed in its unusual red and yellow coloring. It is quite pest free, although over time the Canna Leaf Roller can cause damage if not noticed.

Indian shot 'Golden Lucifer'

A variant of Canna lily, indian shot 'Golden Lucifer' produces beautiful, strikingly golden blossoms freckled with red. The flowers produce a lovely contrast with its green leaves, making this plant a beloved ornamental. The blossoms appear from midsummer to autumn and perform best in full sun. Well suited to containers, it is very susceptible to frost.

Indian shot 'Valentine'

An unusually red variation of canna lily, this cultivar produces tall, blood-red flowers atop dusty purple stems. Indian shot 'Valentine' was cultivated as a canna lily hybrid and aptly named for its valentine-like colors. It is beloved for its striking top-to-bottom colors, long-living flowers, and ease of care.

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More General Info About Indian shot

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Quickly Identify Indian shot

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Indian shot proudly displays vivid, flame-red flowers atop its erect stems, which can reach up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) in height. The lush, green to violet-green leaves fan out in a paddle shape and contribute to the plant's robust size, potentially growing to 3 feet (0.9 meters) in width. Its lush foliage forms dense clumps, indicating a vigorous growth habit typical to its family. The flamboyance of its flowers and the substantial size of its leaves are distinct features that aid in its identification.