Indian Shot Plant is a common garden plant mostly with red or yellow flowers. The species has several sub-species with slight variations. In many places in the tropics, its rhizomes are used as food also.
Since this plant looks like a miniature of the banana tree, it is called Vazhachedi in Malayalam.
Its botanical name is Canna indica. There are many cultivars or hybrids developed from it. I think this one is a cultivar as its flowers are bigger than usual.
Important Facts
Plant Type: Perennial flowering plant
Family: Cannaceae
Scientific name: Canna indica
Common name: Indian Shot
Malayalam: Vazhachedi
Distribution: Tropical regions, indigenous to Americas
Main uses: Ornamental plant, for food
Description
Looking very much like a banana tree or heliconia, Indian Shot is on average 1 to 2 meters tall. Its stem is not woody which grows from rhizomes.
Similar to banana, its leaves are also big, usually 1 meter long and 20 to 30 cm broad with pointed tips. The flowers have vivid colors. It shines like a red-hot iron under bright sunlight.
Distribution & Habitat
Although the name is Indian Shot or C.indica, its origin is not in India. The plant is indigenous to the tropics of Central and South America, the islands of West Indies and parts of the U.S.A. Now it is introduced to other parts of the world as well.
Often found by the side of ponds or water bodies, C.indica requires warm climate & wet soil. It prefers places with ample rainfall.
Additional Photos
The bud…
lovely shots ! and the red seems to be such a powerful color …great !
What a fantastic shots of the Canna. We can only grow them in containers overhere and have to bring it inside during the winter.
Have a great weekend Abhinav
this sure is a lovely flower and you have captured this so beautifully!
great set of photos, well done:)
I love the series of these flowers, beautiful.
Lovely series…I like flower with droplets…
Ein wahres Meisterk von Blume, so kräftig in der Farbe und dieser gealtige Kelch, voll Ausdruck…
Lieben Gruß
CL
Beautiful, beautiful photos!!I have a couple of these showy flowers in my garden,known here as Canas de India.
That is such a gorgeous flower! I have some in my yard – they haven't bloomed yet because they are in a shady spot – I am anxious to see them blooming now! Your photos are especially lovely – the one with the water beads is exquisite!
Extremely gorgeous & beautiful.
gorgeous scarlet color! and big bugle-shaped blooms!
fantastic, as always!
These are very lovely flowers.
Oh this red is catchy
Bardzo duży kwiat kanny i przepiękny kolor. Pozdrawiam.
Very large and beautiful flower kanna color. Yours.
Bright and beautiful. Seeing these glorious pics gives me great joy and cheer !
Canna!! I love them. They're beautiful.
it so nice & very beautiful.
beautiful photos with nice information
thanks
Abhinav, I can’t decide whether I admire your photographs more or your subjects… thanks for the treat 🙂
I'm inspired by your blog and and started my photography blog < http://remizphotosyntesis.blogspot.in/ >
Please do visit and give your suggestions.
Thanks
Superb shots…I have seen this flower umpteen no of times but had no idea of its name. Thanks for enlightening me on that one 🙂
Thanks for writing such a good article,
I stumbled onto your blog and read a few post.
I like your style of writing.indian names
This art concentrates on organizing and grouping together various flora and natural ornamental accessories to achieve harmony of form, color and texture. This art also takes care of the occasion and ambiance that needs to be adorned. Bouquets and bunches are created in sync with the surroundings to compliment them. Lotus flower meaning