Canna x 'Brandywine'

Regulations for cleaner waste water at plant nurseries are getting tighter. To accommodate these regulations, many growers are now capturing the irrigation solution after it has passed through the growing media of the plants that they are growing for reuse. Before the water can be used again, the water must be cleaned. Many of these growers are planting Canna Lilies in their irrigation water return ditches. The Canna Lilies can withstand variable fertilizer concentrations and will remove some of the salts out of the irrigation solution resulting in cleaner water. Not only do the plants offer a service of "willingly" filtering recycled irrigation water, but they also produce beautiful flowers that can be harvested for cut-flowers. Canna Lilies aren't actually lilies. They are more closely related to plants such as the Bird of Paradise and true gingers. The name Canna is derived from the Celtic term that translates to "cane" in English.