Elaine:
Thats great news about the pale green variegated.I wont chance those.
I live where there is real winter and long months of freezing so the season is short compared to warmer zones.
I love tropical s in my deck planters because of the drama so I buy plants.In past years I have grown alocasias but last summer there were too many failures to grow into anything really great.
I need to buy plants as that gives me 2 months head start compared to planting tubers and waiting until August to see anything.Weather turns cool in September and downright cold the end of Sep.
I had done some scouting and see Joy Creek has canna plants.Expensive but it might be worth it just for 2 or 3.