Indian shot

A large group of ornamental hybrids which were created in the mid 19th century come from Canna indica L., C. flaccida Salib. and C. glauca L., among others. They are classified under the name of Indian Shot (Canna x generalis L. H. Bail.) and are all native to Central and South America. These full-sun plants are very decorative due to their large leaves, which are similar to those of the Banana plant and grow up to 50 cms in length, their showy flowers (red, orangey, yellow or a blend of those colours) and their long flowering period. Although they are perennial plants which reach a height of 1.6m, in the Alhambra their leaves fall in winter and in mid-spring start growing again from their rhizomes, which can be removed and divided for the plant to multiply. In the Alhambra, as a consequence of a distortion of their original name, they are also known as Encarna Flower or Encarna-Orchid.