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Plant care

Canna 'Pretoria' (Bengal Tiger canna) care

Canna 'Pretoria'

Also called Bengal Tiger canna, Pretoria canna lily, Striped canna.

RHS H2USDA 7-11Mildly toxic to petsIndoor 150-200 cm tall

Watering rhythm

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Water deeply 2-3 times per week during the growing season; reduce sharply once foliage dies back in autumn

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Light

Direct sun (at least 4-6 hours)

Soil

Rich, moist, fertile loam or multipurpose compost for containers

Humidity

50-80%

Temp

15-35°C

Pet safety

Mildly toxic to pets

Mature size

150-200 cm tall

Care at a glance

Light

Most houseplants will scorch where canna 'pretoria' thrives. Give it the windowsill you'd otherwise leave empty because everything else burned there. Requires full sun, minimum 6 hours daily, to develop the most vivid leaf variegation and to flower reliably. In partial shade, the striping becomes less distinct and flowering is reduced. A plant moved abruptly from low light to direct sun bleaches in 48 hours — always acclimatise over a week.

Watering

Aim for water deeply 2-3 times per week during the growing season; reduce sharply once foliage dies back in autumn for canna 'pretoria', but treat that as a starting point rather than a rule. A south-facing summer windowsill will dry the pot twice as fast as a north-facing winter room. Lift the pot; if it feels noticeably lighter than it did wet, water it. Cannas are thirsty plants in summer. They tolerate boggy conditions and can even be grown at pond margins. Never allow the rhizomes to dry out completely during active growth.

Soil and pot

Canna 'Pretoria' grows best in rich, moist, fertile loam or multipurpose compost for containers. Dig in generous quantities of well-rotted manure or compost before planting. Cannas are heavy feeders and respond well to organic matter in the soil. In containers, use loam-based compost with added slow-release fertiliser. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Canna 'Pretoria' sits happiest at around 50-80% humidity and 15-35°C (59-95°F). Thrives in high humidity, reflecting its tropical origins. In dry summers, misting or placing containers on gravel trays with water can help. Spider mites become more problematic in low humidity. If you keep the room above 15 year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed canna 'pretoria' sparingly. Feed every 2 weeks during the growing season with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser (tomato feed). Begin feeding once plants are actively growing and cease at the first signs of autumn dieback. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on canna 'pretoria' in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

  • Canna leaf roller — Caterpillars roll and feed inside the leaves, causing ragged damage. Remove affected leaves and caterpillars by hand; use Bacillus thuringiensis as a biological control.
  • Spider mites in dry conditions — Fine webbing and mottled foliage indicate spider mites. Increase humidity, wash foliage, and apply a suitable miticide if infestation is heavy.
  • Viral mosaic — Canna yellow stripe virus causes mosaic discolouration on leaves. Remove and destroy affected plants; there is no cure. Buy from reputable, virus-indexed sources.
  • Frost damage — Cannas are not frost hardy in most of the UK and cooler US regions. Lift rhizomes in autumn after the first frost and store in dry compost in a frost-free location.
  • Bacterial bud rot — Young buds can blacken and rot in wet weather. Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering to reduce this risk.

Companion plants

Canna 'Pretoria' pairs well with Musa basjoo, Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff', Ricinus communis, and Colocasia esculenta. These are species with similar light and water needs, so you can group them in the same room or on the same shelf and water as a batch.

Propagation

Divide rhizomes in spring before planting out, ensuring each section has at least one growing bud. Alternatively, start rhizomes in pots under glass in early spring and plant out after all frost risk has passed. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Canna 'Pretoria' is mildly toxic to pets. Canna is listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and cats. However, it is not individually listed as non-toxic to horses, and large quantities of plant material can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals. The ASPCA specifically lists Canna generalis as non-toxic to dogs and cats. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Canna 'Pretoria' care — frequently asked questions

What is the common name for Canna 'Pretoria'?

Canna 'Pretoria' is most commonly called Canna 'Pretoria', but it is also known as Bengal Tiger canna, Pretoria canna lily, Striped canna. The names refer to the same species, so care instructions for Canna 'Pretoria' apply identically to anything sold as Bengal Tiger canna.

How much light does canna 'pretoria' need?

Canna 'Pretoria' grows best in direct sun (at least 4-6 hours). Requires full sun, minimum 6 hours daily, to develop the most vivid leaf variegation and to flower reliably. In partial shade, the striping becomes less distinct and flowering is reduced.

How often should I water canna 'pretoria'?

Water canna 'pretoria' water deeply 2-3 times per week during the growing season; reduce sharply once foliage dies back in autumn. Cannas are thirsty plants in summer. They tolerate boggy conditions and can even be grown at pond margins. Never allow the rhizomes to dry out completely during active growth. The finger-test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) beats a fixed weekly calendar because pot size, light, and season all change how fast the soil dries.

Is canna 'pretoria' toxic to cats and dogs?

Canna 'Pretoria' is mildly toxic to pets. Canna is listed by the ASPCA as non-toxic to dogs and cats. However, it is not individually listed as non-toxic to horses, and large quantities of plant material can cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals. The ASPCA specifically lists Canna generalis as non-toxic to dogs and cats.

What USDA hardiness zone does canna 'pretoria' grow in?

Canna 'Pretoria' is rated for USDA zone 7-11 and RHS hardiness H2. Outside that range, grow it as a container plant that overwinters indoors before the first hard frost.

Canna 'Pretoria' deep-dive guides

Every aspect of canna 'pretoria' care, each with its own calibrated guide:

Featured in these plant shortlists

Canna 'Pretoria' qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

Related guides

Canna 'Pretoria' is also known as Bengal Tiger canna, Pretoria canna lily, and Striped canna.