"Greg Miller" wrote in message
om...
It's a tall tropical looking flower that I've seen planted in the
center of dome-shaped flower beds in city parkettes (Toronto). The
flowers are delicate looking red-orange, on a long stalk, (like
calla-lily) with long, deep-green leaves that "go up" (ie they don't
flop over). It's not a calla-lily because it doesn't have stamen
showing.

They seem to be used by the city and also apartment buildings for
height and colour in the center of the annual flower beds.

Sounds like Canna, a summer flowering tuber that can be grown much like a
dahlia.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/c...hics/canna.jpg

(sorry, very long link - make sure you get it all)

They really like moist soils and can be grown as a pond plant, but are
perfectly well adapted to regular garden soil. Where you can overwinter
dahlias in ground you can do the same with cannas. Otherwise, dig after
first frost and store the tubers over winter. They make a really nice
container plant, too. Also available with colored and/or variegated foliage
and a wide assortment of flower colors.

pam - gardengal