Bandana-of-the-everglades
Canna flaccida
Last reviewed: September 2026
Bandana-of-the-everglades (Canna flaccida) is a perennial forb native to AL, FL, GA, LA and 2 more states. It blooms in May, June, July, August, and September. The flowers draw bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies.
Toxicity unknown
Bandana-of-the-everglades (Canna flaccida) is not listed by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (opens in new tab) or the other sources we check, so we have no verdict for it either way. Absence from those lists is not a clearance. If your pet shows symptoms after eating any plant, call the ASPCA at (888) 426-4435.
Light
full sun
Water
high
Size
36"–60" H × 24"–36" W
Bloom
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep
Native to
AL, FL, GA, LA and 2 more states
Pollinators
bees, hummingbirds, butterflies
Before you buy
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Browse plants for this ecoregion
A bold, tropical-textured perennial with broad paddle-shaped leaves and tall spikes of large pale yellow flowers. It spreads by rhizomes in shallow standing water and pond margins.
Growing Bandana-of-the-everglades
Grow Bandana-of-the-everglades in full sun and high water. Mature plants reach 36 to 60 inches tall and spread 24 to 36 inches wide.
How to care for Bandana-of-the-everglades, by region
How to care for Bandana-of-the-everglades where it is actually grown: year-round basics plus what to do each season, region by region, with the sources for each.
Care guidance last updated: October 2026
Southern Florida Coastal Plain (includes Miami)
Year-round
Year-round care for golden canna around Miami: full sun, moist to wet soil.
- Give it full sun, where it flowers most.
- It tolerates partial shade but flowers poorly there.
- It adapts to sand, clay, loam and organic muck.
- It does well with wet feet, meaning damp soil.
- It typically reaches about 4 feet tall.
- Staking and removing spent blooms may be needed to keep it neat.
Removing spent blooms and staking when needed keeps this tall perennial looking tidy beside a pond or damp border.
Sources: UF/IFAS Extension: Canna flaccida
Wildlife value
Host plant for Brazilian skipper.
Flowers draw hummingbirds and bees, and the broad leaves are the larval host for Brazilian skipper caterpillars.
Common questions
- How much sun does Bandana-of-the-everglades need?
- Bandana-of-the-everglades grows best in full sun conditions.
- When does Bandana-of-the-everglades bloom?
- Bandana-of-the-everglades blooms in May, June, July, August, and September.
- Where is Bandana-of-the-everglades native?
- Bandana-of-the-everglades (Canna flaccida) is native to AL, FL, GA, LA and 2 more states, per the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew).
- What butterflies or moths does Bandana-of-the-everglades host?
- Bandana-of-the-everglades is a larval host plant for Brazilian skipper.
Native range data from the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (Kew). Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.
If something looks wrong
Common plant problems, and what to check first
These come up on almost any plant. Each guide lists the likely causes in the order they are worth ruling out, with one thing to check before you act on any of them, and links to the source it came from.
- It is dying right after planting
- Leaves turning yellow
- Wilting even though I watered it
- Brown crispy leaf tips
- Bugs on the plant
Ready to grow Bandana-of-the-everglades? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.