Vigorous, Versatile Canna Bulbs

If you're drawn to big tropical plants and have thought about adding some canna bulbs to your plantings this year, do. Beyond looks, here are three more reasons to love cannas.

These tall plants make excellent screens. Most properties have a less than attractive feature or two; an ugly compost pile, a plain garage or eye sore plastic trash cans. Several strategically placed cannas can make these all but disappear.

Grow a living, blooming fence. Whether to provide a visual divider between your yard and the one behind yours, or to offer a little privacy from a too-close next door neighbor, lofty, full cannas, like The President, are tailor-made. You'll never have to paint or replace warped boards.

Foliage to stop them in their tracks. With burgundy foliage (Pink Futurity), bronze leaves (Red Futurity) or bold stripes from top to bottom (Pretoria), the large splashy flowers are just icing on the cake for these plants.

Whether you want to screen, separate or draw attention to fabulous foliage, canna bulbs are the place to start.

Another plant that's underutilized in today's landscapes is Crocosmia. Below are a few ways this problem solver earns its place in gardens. Look to this easy to please workhorse for:

Whether you call it Crocosmia or montbretia, the name your grandmother knew it as, make sure this season doesn't slip by without giving it a try. You'll like it - we promise.

As you plan this year's garden projects have you been looking at statues, sundials, birdbaths, and tall urns? Something to provide height, a focal point and a sense of style? Consider colocasia, a unique solution.

Not familiar with these giant, often colorful, elephant ear plants? Allow us to introduce them. With leaves up to two feet long and overall heights that can match that of a tall man, these tropical plants have been popping up in gardens coast to coast.

Ideally suited to the warm humid climate of the Deep South, these horticultural Hercules can be grown in cooler areas if brought inside during the winter. Drier environments also provide good growing sites if the soil is moist, like a pond edge or an area that's watered regularly.

Colocasia, and its close relative, Alocasia, are sensational foliage plants with leaves that grow almost straight upright (A. Macrorrhiza), have strong purple markings (C. Illustris) or are a deep purple-black (C. Black Magic), depending on the cultivar you choose. Just think how these could elevate your garden's style.

At under $20 for the priciest varieties, these will set you back much less than an expensive statue, while still looking incredible. Worth considering, no?