Illia

Ensete glaucom, the red version, I believe is quite hardy and although not exactly variegated, it does have red stems and all. I could be wrong, and be thinking of E. ventricosum though. They're a nice red as well.

Ae Ae is the only really nice white and green variegated one I know of, gorgeous plant, but it is very expensive, rare, and not cold hardy to that zone. You'd need really good protection.

For good eating, Orinoco is pretty hardy, same with Rajapuri, Namwah, and Ice Cream although most sources sell Namwahs or similar and call them Ice Cream. Thousand Fingers has good cold reputation as well. Velutina is another one which may fruit for you each year, but it is a seeded species.

Most Ensete I know are pretty hardy, and if the winter isn't too bad, will simply die back to the ground and come up the next year. Same goes for Ice Cream / Namwah, but they do need protection in zones lower than 8b.


I've no experience or knowledge with plantains, but Orinoco can be used as one.