At a perennial sale once I found an unmarked canna with green leaves, and when I asked what color the flowers were, they said they didn't know. After looking at the leaves for a while, they decided it was probably yellow. Later that summer, I found they were right. How can I find that out for myself?
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1Undoubtedly a genetic test could be performed. Otherwise you could take a job selling canna. Experience is a good teacher. – Dale Dec 06 '11 at 06:44
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2Maybe the leaves of ones with red flowers have a reddish tinge? – Ed Staub Dec 06 '11 at 16:33
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2Maybe they sold two different kinds and guessed? – baka Dec 08 '11 at 13:21
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They had many colors. – J. Musser Dec 09 '11 at 02:06
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3The genetic traits that make a yellow flower will have other super subtle effects on the plant. Perhaps, the ratio of stem thickness to leaf, or leaf colour tinge. There is no doubt humans have a largely untapped ability (in modern times anyway) to see these subtle differences, sometimes subconsciously. It's due to taking the information in subconsciously that it seems only 'probable' not definite that the flowers would be yellow. So I think @JoeHobbit is right. It's simply experience. – Lisa Jan 18 '12 at 23:22
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Theory #2: Luck (and great odds on yellow). If you look at the helpfully illustrated [Wikipedia page on Canna lily cultivars](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canna_cultivars), the majority (i.e. easily more than 50%) of the flowers could be described as "yellow". – Lisa Jan 19 '12 at 23:08
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Maybe they had divisions from two different people, and the two of them had a good look and decided yes, these leaves look like Sue's and hers are yellow. – Kate Gregory Oct 08 '12 at 18:04
