Hardy bananas, gingers and canna's
General information:
Bananas for most are a symbol of the tropics, a desired effect for many people in their temperate gardens. The hardiness for some has been overstated. Our experience has led us to call it like this: if on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the hardiest so far) Musa basjoo is a solid 10, Musa sikkimensis would get a 8.5 and Musaella lasiocarpa a 6.5 or 7. Musa sikkimensis needs a warmer area than Musa basjoo to leaf out in spring and Musaella lasiocarpa a even warmer area. A established Musa sikkimensis approaches the hardiness of M. basjoo but as a smaller plant does not come back if it gets cut to the ground by severe or extended cold spells.
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Our past winter (2005-06) saw temperatures down in the low teens for about 7 nights in December. Of course this cut all the bananas no matter what species to the ground. All but Musaella lasiocarpa came back. So far this winter (2006-07) we have had not only quite a deep freeze (10 f) but almost 2 feet of snow fell plus several wind storms of around 70 mph. This will be one of the best tests we have had in several years in terms of hardiness.
Descriptions and prices
Musa basjoo
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Musa basjoo, or the Japanese fiber banana, can be reliably grown in temperate gardens, having survived temperatures of 0 f without protection and -20 f with protection. Coming cultivation in the west from Ryuku islands, off the south Japan coast, a mature Musa basjoo will grow 18-20 feet tall with leaves on the order of 2 feet wide and 6 feet long. A one-gallon Musa basjoo will grow to about 5 feet in the first year and produce many suckers (pups). A large clump reaching to 10 feet can be expected in the second year and mature height in the third. With plenty of food and water a Musa basjoo can produce a new leaf in 7-10 days. Only 1 and 3 gallon left. Of course I still have 6 pks. Updated: 5-22-07
Prices: 1 gallon=$12.50, 3 gallon=30.00 5 gallon=45.00 :)
Read about banana care by going to the care pages
Musa sikkimensis
New to cultivation, possibly as hardy as Musa basjoo. This robust banana originates from east India and Bhutan. Growing fast to 15-18 feet with a pseudostem (trunk) up to 15 inches in diameter, and with waxy medium green leaves with red back sides. In the spring, red painting on some of the new leaves may be found. True hardiness has not yet been established. Our experience so far is as a young plant M. sikkimensis is not as tough as M. basjoo and there is need for warmer days than M. basjoo to come out of dormancy. Appearing to grow much more prolific in warm areas or sited in warm microclimates in cooler gardens. Information coming out the hotter parts of the country we are hearing about better tolerance to intense heat than Musa basjoo. It is looking as if we can safely say as a mature plant the hardiness of M. sikkimensis and M. basjoo are comparable at this point in the evaluation. Having originally been found at 6000 feet in Darjeeling, hardiness was expected to be good; time appears to be proving it. Care would be the same as for Musa basjoo. Only just a few 5 gallon left. Updated: 5-22-07
Prices: 1 gallon=$15.00, 3 gallon=30.00 5 gallon=45.00
Read about banana care by going to the care pages
Musa itinerans
A final identity comes out of China and Finland. Seed was harvested in the mountains of Yunan as Ensete glaucum, the snow banana . Seedlings rapidly produce offsets. Leaves are blue-green and more narrow than M. basjoo or M. sikkimensis, ending in a fine point. The rapidly growing trunk has a blue color. Collection site conditions suggest good hardiness. Information from warmer areas is suggesting the need to be grown in shade areas that hasn't been the case here in the NW even in our abnormally warm summer this year. In the Northwest we have had good luck so far, freezing to the ground but coming back. M. itinerans may have the drawback of leafing out a little early only to suffer from damage from late frost. Currently only 1 gallon available 5-22-07
Price = $15.00
Read about banana care by going to the care pages
Musaella lasiocarpa
A banana relative from Yunan. Growing to 5 feet with thick waxy blue-green leaves, Musella lasiocarpa is able to grow in windier sites than most bananas. A nice clump of vase-shaped trunks stained with pink grow the first year. Appearing in the second year, the up-to-6 inch-wide yellow flowers appear, erect rather than pendant, as with true bananas. Found at over 9000 feet, the Chinese yellow banana appears to be quite hardy, so far withstanding 10 f. In our area this is the last of the banana types to leaf out, it appears to need fairly high day and night temperatures to come out of dormancy. Care would be the same as for Musa basjoo. Currently only 1 gallon in stock 5-22-07
Price= $15.00
Read about banana care by going to the care pages