Cannas overwinter in zone 5

[yuccaman]

I saw some cannas at the airbase last summer and they died in the fall and came back in April or May. I wan't overwinter some. Whats the most hardiest one?

[DesertZone]

I am not sure, but would also like to know?

[Kansas]

Please do not shoot me if I am wrong and your die, but my partner at work has some cannas with red flowers. I picked seeds off them and scarcified them. Soaked in water for two days and when I took them out of the water, they had already popped.
He told me he doesn't dig them up in the winter, but just cuts them down. They are about 6'-7' tall and there are suckers everywhere. He told me he used to dig them up, but he got tired of doing it every year with all the pups, so he just cuts them down.
They are on a South faceing wall of his garage. You can tell he leaves them outside cause these suckers are HUGE!
And this is in Topeka 5B.
BTW, I am going to try to leave them out this winter too, the ones I got from seeds from his.

[yuccaman]

I will give it a try. Kansas state is much different than our zone 5b. Topeka might see some zone 5 temps from time to time but they will not see it very often. They are not wet like we are so canna bulbs must be in a sheltered area so rain does not rot them out. The ones at the base were huge when first planted but when they survived winter they got dwarfed and were smaller. Thanks kansas it should work for me with good drainage or some protection. Lots of cannas come back but they are just get smaller and weaker. Cannas can live in the cold in Trenton for 8 years and they don't sprout up again. I was told at hollandale that not all will make it. For it to live that long must be placed on south wall. They rate them zone 9. and they are half hardy in zone 5 and 6. zone 9 they stay green all year. in zone 7 they die and come back well like tulips.

[Wes North Van]

I only grow one canna and that is Tropicana. It is suppose to be one of the hardiest and in my opinion is the nicest looking canna. I have no problem over wintering this species. It comes back stronger and bigger every year.