Canna 'Musaefolia'

Canna 'Musaefolia' cultivars belong to the Foliage Group of Cannas. In the first work devoted to Canna, Le Canna - authored by M. Chaté in 1867 with the co-operation of Monsieur Théodore Année, we were provided with the first written description and details of origin. The Musaefolia members of the Foliage Group consist of a specimen that was accepted as a native species of Peru by the experts of the time, and at least 7 hybrids and cultivars carrying that parentage. The original "species" was unique because it was without rhizomes, and required to be kept constantly growing. No such species is known to exist in this age, and leading authorities treat C. musaefolia as a synonym of C. paniculata.

Monsieur Chaté writes, "This species was formerly described in the English, Dutch, and German horticultural journals under the name of C. excelsa. It was named musæfolia by Monsieur Théodore Année, who introduced it into France in 1858, from the resemblance of its leaves to those of the Musa or banana-tree. It reaches a height of more than 8 ft (2.4 m) and has green, downy stems, and very large, oval, green leaves. Flowers small, orange-yellow. It is a tender species without rhizomes, and requires to be kept constantly growing. Peru."

Nowadays, Canna excelsa is accepted as a synonym of C. paniculata. However, all currently known Cannas have rhizomes or tubers.

We do know that the early hybridizers, led by Monsieur Année, crossed the original import and produced cultivars, some of which still live on.

"Resembles C. 'Musaefolia', but the stems and leaves are thicker and of a deeper green."

A tall Foliage Group cultivar; dark green foliage, very large, broadly oblong shaped, maroon margin, spreading habit; oval stems, coloured green; flowers are upright, self-coloured salmon-red, staminodes are small, edges regular, style is red, petals purple with farina, fully self-cleaning; fertile both ways, not true to type, self-pollinating, capsules round; rhizomes are thick, up to 3 cm in diameter, coloured purple; tillering is prolific. Introduced by Théodore Année, Passy, France, EU in 1860.

"Leaves of a whitish green, badly set. Flowers small, orange brown. No rootstocks. Introduced by Théodore Année, Passy, France, EU in 1860."

As all Canna grown today have rhizomes or tubers, this hybrid must now be considered to be extinct.

"Stems green and downy, 5 ft. to 6½ ft. high. Leaves very large, wide, green. Flowers small, orange. Rootstocks very small. Introduced by E. Chaté et fils, sentier Saint-Antoine, Saint-Mandé, Paris, France, EU. in 1862."

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Wikipedia