Not Pentas: The Heat-Resistant Annual Flower That Hummingbirds Can't Resist

Pentas are one of those low-maintenance fuss-free flowers that do well in bringing more hummingbirds to your outdoor space. APart of this has to do with how well they hold up to heat and drought, which makes them far more beginner and warm-climate friendly. However, when it comes to the flowers you can fill your hummingbird haven with during the summer, pentas aren't your only choice. Instead, you can also add this eye-catching and vibrant annual flower that tolerates even extreme heat.

The trademarked 'Toucan Coral' canna (Canna 'Toucan Coral') is a stunning pink canna lily that blooms throughout the summer. As far as visual appeal goes, it's one of those plants that ensures that your garden won't be looked over thanks to its overall vibrancy and its ability to grow up to 48 inches tall. However, this canna lily isn't all looks and no functionality. It's also incredibly durable, holding up to heat and humidity all while remaining a popular plant pick for attracting more hummingbirds to your yard.

Canna lilies overall are considered easy to grow. The 'Toucan Coral' cultivar makes things even easier by requiring little to no deadheading while tolerating hot summer temperatures However, learning the optimal care requirements for this plant can help it thrive rather than just survive, producing more flowers that serve to better attract more hummingbirds and other pollinators to your yard.

The 'Toucan Coral' canna lily is typically grown as an annual in the garden, which means that you don't need to worry about USDA growing zones when deciding if this is the right plant for your pollinator garden. However, it is technically a perennial evergreen, and because it does well in containers, you could choose to leave it outside during the summer where its heat-resistant hummingbird charm can shine and then overwinter it indoors during the colder months of the year. Whether you plan to grow it as an annual or overwinter it as a perennial may influence where you plant it in your yard.

Another factor that dictates location within your yard is sunlight. This canna lily cultivar does best when it is offered either partial or full sun. As a result, if you want it to produce as many of those hummingbird-magnet blooms as possible, you'll want to keep it in a location where it's not receiving too much shade during the day. For full sun, a south-facing garden may be the preferred choice; otherwise, you may opt for an east- or west-facing spot for morning or afternoon sun respectively.

As far as day-to-day care goes, this canna lily appreciates humid conditions and consistently moist soil. However, you'll want to take care not to leave it waterlogged, which does far more harm than good.