Even before it blooms, ‘Phaison’ stands out for the elaborate coloration of its foliage. The new leaves unfurl from wine-red canes in brilliant stripes of yellow, red, pink and green, all edged in burgundy. Then the flowering stalk rises, opening into the rich golden orange bloom. It’s hard to believe all this comes from a species, Canna indica, that was once grown primarily for its rhizome roots, a food source in the ancient civilizations of Central and South America.