How to identify Maraca amarilla (Canna glauca)

How to identify Maraca amarilla (Canna glauca)

Maraca amarilla exhibits spikes of vivid red, salmon pink, yellow, or burnt orange flowers. It stands on tall, erect stems, which can reach over 2 feet (60 cm) in height and are surrounded by large, paddle-shaped leaves. These leaves bring a colorful presence even when maraca amarilla is not in bloom. The foliage thrives in full to partial sunlight and needs protection from high winds due to its broad surface area. Maraca amarilla prefers moist, organically rich, and well-drained soils to sustain its herbaceous perennial growth.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Maraca amarilla

Tall stems exceeding 2 feet (60 cm) with vivid red, yellow, or salmon pink flowers.

Paddle-shaped, blue-green leaves measuring 28-70 cm (11-28 inches) in length.

Distinctive 3-parted capsules, 0.8 - 2 inches long (2 - 5 cm), with wart-like patterns.

Erect stems, 3-6 feet (90-180 cm) tall, with minimal branching and smooth texture.

Petals resembling stamens, 7-10 cm (2.8-4 inches) long, in raceme inflorescence.

Detailed Traits of Maraca amarilla

Leaf Features

The leaves of maraca amarilla are large, narrow, and paddle-shaped with a striking blue-green color. Each leaf measures 28-70 cm (11-28 inches) in length and 1.5-14 cm (0.6-5.5 inches) in width. They are light green, narrowly ovate, and clasp the stem at the base, resembling banana plant leaves. Both the sheath and blade are glaucous, with a cuneate base and an acute apex, providing a smooth, waxy texture.

Learn About the Leaf Glossary

Flower Features

Maraca amarilla boasts tall, gladiolus-like flower spikes that bloom in late summer through early fall. The flowers come in vibrant hues such as red, salmon pink, yellow, and burnt orange. Each flower, measuring 7 to 10 cm (2.8 to 4 inches) long, is composed of petaloid stamens that resemble petals. The raceme inflorescence holds at least 10 flowers per spike. Floral parts include ovate bracts, narrowly elliptic sepals, and tube-like petals, enhancing its distinctive appearance.

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Stem Features

The stem of maraca amarilla is tall and erect, typically reaching heights of 3 to 6 feet (90 to 180 cm). It is robust and cylindrical in shape with a smooth texture. The color is usually a greenish hue with a slight bluish tinge, as suggested by the species 'glauca'. The stem exhibits minimal branching, supporting leaves and colorful flowers primarily at its apex. The thickness varies but is generally firm, providing structural support for the plant's height.

Learn About the Stem Glossary

Fruit Features

The fruit of maraca amarilla is a prickly 3-parted capsule, measuring around 0.8 - 2 inches long (2 - 5 cm) and 0.8 - 1.6 inches wide (2 - 4 cm), with a globular to ellipsoid shape. Initially, the surface of these young and immature fruits is covered in a wart-like pattern. As they mature, they turn into a hardy shell that splits open at the top, releasing numerous small seeds that are 0.03 - 0.04 inches by 0.02 - 0.03 inches (0.7 - 1 mm x 0.6 - 0.8 mm), displaying a distinctive brown color mottled with black.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Maraca amarilla and Their Similar Plants

Indian shot vs. Maraca amarilla: What's The Difference?

Despite its name, indian shot is a flowering perennial plant native to Central and South America. It has been naturalized in other parts of the world and has become a popular garden plant known for its large decorative leaves, fiery red blooms, and ease of cultivation. It is a traditional minor food for indigenous peoples of the Americas.

Canna lilies 'Cleopatra' vs. Maraca amarilla: What's The Difference?

The canna lilies '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.

Canna lilies 'Pretoria' vs. Maraca amarilla: What's The Difference?

Canna lilies 'Pretoria' is a highly attractive canna lily variety for at least two reasons. It has large orange bi-colored flowers, distinctly different from the classic canna lilies, and variegated yellow-and-green striped leaves. Since canna lilies have such large foliage, the colorfulness of canna lilies 'Pretoria' leaves plays a major role in the cultivar's showiness. It is a winner of the prestigious Royal Horticultural Society's "Award of Garden Merit."

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Key Facts About Maraca amarilla

Attributes of Maraca amarilla

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Herb

Plant Height

1.5 m

Spread

60 cm to 90 cm

Fruit Color

Green

Stem Color

Green

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Maraca amarilla

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Gingers, bananas, and allies

Family

Canna

Genus

Canna lilies

Species

Maraca amarilla (Canna glauca)

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Distribution Map of Maraca amarilla

Maraca amarilla is native to tropical and subtropical regions of South and Central America. Its natural distribution extends across the Central American isthmus and down through the Amazon Basin, reaching into the northern parts of the South American continent. It has also been introduced to parts of Southeast Asia, thriving in several countries there. Additionally, maraca amarilla is cultivated beyond its native and introduced ranges, marking it as a plant of interest in various global locales.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Maraca amarilla

A Comprehensive Guide to Maraca amarilla How to Grow and Care for Maraca amarilla