Landscape ideas: Growing Bananas in the North !!

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Growing Bananas in the North !!

Musa
A genus of close to 40 species of suckering, evergreen perennials.
They prefer full sun on moist, fertile, humus-rich, well drained soil on a site protected from excessive wind that can tear the leaves. Fertilize and water frequently during the growing season.
Propagation from division of suckers and seed sown during spring.

* photos of unknown internet source

Musa acuminata
Also called Musa cavendishii. It is a large, suckering Banana, reaching a maximum height of 25 feet, that is native to Southeast Asia and the northern part of Queensland, Australia. Some records include: first year - 8 feet.
The paddle-shaped leaves, up to 10 feet x 28 inches ( rarely as much as 19 feet x 28 inches ), are mid green.
The pendant, white to yellow pear-shaped flowers are borne on long clusters.
They are followed by yellow, edible fruits, up to 8 inches in length.
Hardy zones 9 to 11

Dwarf Cavendish
Smaller growing, reaching a maximum height of 10 ( rarely over 6 ) feet. The yellow flowers are backed by purple bracts.

Mysore
Tall growing producing great tasting fruits which are great for desserts.
Hardy zones 9 to 11 ( also zones 6 to 8 as a perennial however not fruiting ).

Orinoco
Fruits have flesh that is tinged pink. Hardy zones 9 to 11 ( also zones 6 to 8 as a perennial however not fruiting ).

Rajapuri
Smaller and hardy north to zone 8 ( even zone 7 if protected ).
Some records include: largest on record - 8 x 16 feet.

Musa balbisiana ( Wild Banana )
A very majestic Banana, reaching a maximum height of 25 feet with diameter of 1 foot, that is native from India to southern China, south to New Guinea and the Phillipines.
The leaves, up to 10 feet in length, are green.
The flowers are purple.
They are followed by pale yellow fruits, up to 4 x 1.5 inches.
Hardy zones 9 to 12

Musa banksii ( Maroon Stemmed Banana )
A clump forming Banana reaching a maximum height of 20 feet.
The huge leathery leaves, up to 12 inches in length, are deep green.
The flowers with large overlapping, reddish bracts are borne on pendulous spikes.
They are followed by yellow, cylindrical fruits, up to 5 inches in length, that are borne on stalks, up to 2.5 inches in length.
Hardy zones 10 to 12

Musa basjoo ( Japanese Banana )
A fast growing, very large perennial, reaching up to 20 feet, that is native to the Ryukyu Islands off the south coast of Japan.
It grows to 25 and produces a small non edible fruit. It is an excellent landscape plant and provides an instant tropical look. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 14 feet; first year - 12 feet ( typically 6 feet from gallon size ); largest on record - 25 x 13 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 inches. The clump spreads by up to 2 feet per year. Extremely fast growing, it can grow up to 2 feet per week during late spring and early summer.
The leaves, up to 10 x 2.5 feet, are glossy green.
The yellow flowers are showy. The fruit is not edible.
Evergreen to 30 F but stem hardy to 2 F ( preferrably wrapped ) and root hardy as a perennial to zone 6 ( even zones 4 and 5 if mulched ). Its hardy to around 0°F without mulch and has survived -20°F in Nebraska and Massachusetts when mulched with a pile of leaves or pine boughs 2 feet high.
* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.

* coming up during spring in Maryland

* photos taken on Aug 25 2011 @ Scott Arboretum, Swarthmore College, PA

* photos taken on June 23 2013 @ U.S. National Arboretum, DC

* photo taken on Oct 31 2013 in Towson, MD

Musa coccinea ( Red Banana )
A southeast Asian native that can reach up to 10 feet in height, with red flowers.
Hardy zones 10 to 12 in full sun to partial shade.

Musa ensete ( Abyssinian Banana )
Reaches a maximum size of 40 x 27 feet ( typically closer to 25 x 20 feet ).
The massive leaves are up to 20 x 5 feet.
Hardy zones 10 to 12

Musa Itenerans ( Yunnan Banana )
An elegant, graceful, very tall Banana reaching up to 35 feet that is native to southern Yunnan Province in China.
It could prove to be hardy in zone 7 or 8 ( possibly even zone 4 as a perennial ). Prefers partial shade.

Musa ornata ( Flowering Banana )
A very ornamental, suckering Banana, reaching a maximum size of 13 x 13 feet, that is native to Bangladesh and Burma. The trunk or pseudostem can reach up to 4 inches in diameter.
The leaves, up to 7 feet x 16 inches, are waxy green.
The inflorescences are composed of orange-yellow flowers with bright purple bracts.
They are followed by yellow or pink fruits, up to 3 x 0.7 inches.
Hardy zones 9 to 12

Standard Lavender
Reaching up to 12 feet with lavender flowers.

Musa x paradisiaca ( Banana )
A semi-evergreen hybrid between Musa acuminata and M. balbisiana that has become the commerical food production Banana of today. Some records include: largest on record - 45 x 15 feet.
This hybrid has been around in southeast Asia for thousands of years.
The leaves are up to 10 x 2.5 feet.
Hardy zones 10 to 12

Lady Finger
Reaches 16 + feet with angled, somewhat short fruits that are very sweet tasting.

Red
Tall and vigorous, with red stems. The sweet tasting, curved fruits are red on the outside, cream-orange on the inside.

Musa sikkimensis
A very fast growing, hardy Banada, that in native to Nepal.
Some records include: first year - 9 feet ( New York State ); largest on record - 18 x 10 feet with a trunk diameter of 1.5 feet.
The foliage is bronze at first, turning to very glossy deep green.
The foliage is evergreen to 28 F but the plant is root hardy and can be grown as a MASSIVE perennial as far north as zone 7 ( even 5 & 6 on protected sites with winter mulch ).

Red Tiger
Foliage is more intense in color, otherwise similar to species. This is likely the most attractive of all hardy Bananas.

Musa velutina ( Velvet Banana )
An attracitive, large, rhizomatous perennial, reaching a maximum height of 7 feet with trunks up to 3 inches in diameter. They are great for the landscape as well as patio planters. The Velvet Banana is native to northeast India.
The leaves, up to 3.5 feet x 14 inches, are deep green above, paler beneath. The leaves usually have a red midrib.
The erect, white to pale yellow flowers are backed by red bracts.
The sweet, velvety, pink fruits that follow split when ripe.
Hardy zones 9 to 12 as an evergreen, it is also hardy zones 6 to 8 as a perennial.

Musella lasiocarpa ( Golden Lotus Banana )
Also called Chinese Yellow Banana. An attractive clumping Banana reaching a maximum size of 6 x 9 ( usually 4 x 6 ) feet that is native to the mountains of southeast China.
The foliage is gray-green.
The waxy yellow flowers up to 6 inches wide, last up to 6 months.
Hardy to zone 7 with mulch. A great container plant.

* photo taken on October 17 2010 @ U.S. National Arboretum, D.C.