Are tropicanna's perenials?

We planted canna's last summer and before the freeze this winter, we wrapped the base of them with burlap and covered them with plastic. They appear to be dead but wonder if they will come back. If they will come back, do I cut off the dead stalks and new ones will grow?

Are tropicanna's perenials?
You haven't said what zone you're in, so I'm having to give general information.



Cannas are generally a very hardy plant that comes from a rhizome. In zones 7-10, cannas will over winter in the ground without the need to dig and store the bulbs. Zones 6 and 7 are marginal for cannas. They will survive during 'normal' winter conditions, but have a greater chance of freezing during a severe winter. It is important to mulch your cannas to help protect and insulate them. Cutting down the foliage after frost and covering with 6 - 8 inches of hay, straw, grass clippings, leaves or other mulch will provide effective protection from old man winter. Another factor regarding possibility of freeze is the placement of cannas in your yard. Cannas planted on the south side of a home or fence will almost always over winter. Cannas planted on the north side of a building or in the middle of a yard do not receive as much protection and will most likely freeze and die during the winter.



The usual advice is for those in a zone 7 or colder or when the cannas are in a location where they won't get much winter sun is to dig up the rhizomes after the first frost and pack them in paper bags or in peat moss over the winter, then replant them in the spring.



With the way you protected them, the plants will possibly come back, depending on just how long and how deep a winter freeze they experienced.



At this point, whatever is above ground should be totally dead and should be trimmed back to the ground. If the rhizomes are still alive, they will send up new shoots when the ground warms up.



Good luck and happy growing!
Reply:You don't say where you are. In some places they are perennial, but might not be showing any new growth yet.Remove the dead and if you are still freezing let them be, Once in a while the next few weeks just investigate gently to see if you see new leaves emerging. When it is warmer water and fertilize them. I am in Washington state and I have had them return in containers, so it is a possibility.
Reply:yes, they can be cut to the ground.