I am not sure I would call myself knowledgeable, but I can tell you my experience. A few years ago I bought some potted and blooming canna from a very reputable and high priced nursery in my area, they did have a virus later on in the summer. I threw them away. Then last year I bought a bag of clearance canna bulbs at Meijer. I planted them, and they were beautiful. The whole bag of 10 bulbs was $5.00. Oddly, we had such a mild winter, they are coming up in my garden this year. Normally they would turn to mush if they weren't dug up in the fall. So, all I can say is, go for it.

Thanks for the response, lindaw ... I am tempted to "go for it" as you suggest ... was reading yesterday that the canna virus has been with us since the 1800s and that many folks have enjoyed their infected cannas unaware for all these years/decades/centuries ... makes me wonder what is hype and what should be feared or avoided ... I had a healthy stand of 'President' and for two years, they performed beautifully ... I left them in the ground and mulched heavily ... last year, I wasn't able to mulch and lost them all ... I really want cannas again ... they have no replacement ...

Thanks,
Barbara in Virginia