Winter Banana Tree
Many different banana species, cultivars and variants are colloquially referred to as the Winter Banana Tree since they are capable of enduring really harsh winter temperatures. The banana plants originate from the tropics and most of them are really cold sensitive – even a slight draft can harm them when grown indoors – but there are several notable exceptions to this general rule. If you want to keep a winter banana tree, you therefore have several great options to choose among.
A winter banana tree can bring a scent of the tropics to any garden and provide a nice alternative to ordinary fruits trees such as apples and pears. Even a garden subjected to frost during the winter season can have banana trees, but they will naturally only grow and produce fruit during the summer. During the cold season, your winter banana tree will turn dormant to protect itself from the harsh temperatures.
If you want a winter banana tree that actually produces edible fruit, the Orinoco Banana (Musa ‘Orinoco’) is one suitable choice. This plant is however only hardy to zone 7, and only when provided with suitable protection. This banana plant grows up to 20 feet tall in tropical conditions, but a temperate climate will normally limit is height to no more than 10 feet. If you know that the frost will come in early fall, you should remove the banana fruit stalk from the pseudostem before this happens and leave the bananas to ripen indoors where they will be protected from the cold. If it has been removed from the pseudostem prematurely, the banana stem needs to be placed in a bucket of water since it will no longer be provided with water and nourishment from the mother plant.
If you want a winter banana tree capable of handling frost, why not take a look at the Japanese fibre banana (Musa basjoo)? Commonly referred to as the Hardy Banana, this amazing plant can endure temperature drops down to -20 degrees F and is known to have survived the winter in all 50 states of the United States. A downside is however the fruits – they do not grow bigger than 2 inches in length and most people dislike the taste of them. The Japanese fibre banana will do best in soil with god water holding capacity, and if your garden is colder than zone 8 you should protect the rhizome with ample amounts of mulch during the winter. It is a striking ornamental plant that can grow up to 10 feet in height and produce slender, 6 inch long leaves. The flower stalk of this winter banana tree is especially attractive and the flower will emerge near the top of the stem in the form of a tight torpedo shaped bud of yellow or orange colour.
