Thorvald Dalebø

Canna 'Thorvald Dalebø'

Canna 'Thorvald Dalebø'

(Premier Group)
Origin DALEBØ Thor
Parentage Canna 'Dondoblütrot' x Canna 'Jessie Dalebø'
Height Small, under 3ft/90cm
Foliage Green
Form Branching
Flower Red
Blooming Good bloomer
Flowering Summer to frosts
Tillering Average
Available Specialist

Introduced by Thor Dalebø of Normandy, France in 2006, Canna 'Thorvald Dalebø' is a small Premier Group cultivar; green foliage, oval shaped, maroon margin, branching habit; oval main stems, coloured green + farina; triangular flower stalks, coloured green + farina; flowers are open, self-coloured burnt-red, staminodes are medium size, edges irregular, petals red with farina, fully self-cleaning, good bloomer, flowers in summer until frosts, blooms open in the early morning; fertile both ways, not self-pollinating or true to type, capsules globose; rhizomes are tuber-like groups, coloured purple; tillering is average.

Canna 'Thorvald Dalebø' is available from specialist growers; breeding is Canna 'Dondoblütrot' x Canna 'Jessie Dalebø'.

Named for my bestefar (grandfather) Thorvald Kristian Dalebø, who went to see at 12 years of age on a wind-jammer around Cape Horn. He went on to become a captain of a millionaires yacht on the Great Lakes of Canada and USA. He retired and returned to Norway when the German army invaded Norway, to look after the family with the help of his US pension, which ceased in 1942 when the USA decided which side to support, and joined in alongside the Allies. 

As a boy I would run to him whenever I saw a boat coming into the quay, and he would have to walk me down there to watch them tying up and unloading, regardless of the weather. He also taught me to tie many seamans knots, which I am ashamed to say I have forgotten, but 75 years on I have an excuse.

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