Nursery said "Chinese Banana"

[Gardener972]

I don't know if that's the generic name or the actual name for it. Is there a Latin/official name that's attached to it? I was told it tolerates cold down to 10 below 0. I question that one. What do you know about it?

[Caloosamusa]

If it is a Chinese banana it could be one of three or more species, or multiple cultivars. What is the website?

[Gardener972]

Originally Posted by Caloosamusa

What is the website?

No website; it's what a local nursery here in Dallas told me.

[asacomm]

That must be "Chinese Yellow Banana", purely ornamental one.

[natej740]

If they told you it could tolerate 10 bellow zero it would have to be musa basjoo. It is originally from China and 2nd closest to it in hardiness is a musa sikkimensis but i think it is from india....

just my 2 pennies...

Post a pic we could tell pretty easily if it is a chinese yellow or not.

[LilRaverBoi]

Chinese banana is most likely a Musella Lasiocarpa. Other names are Chinese Yellow Banana and Golden Lotus Banana. The wiki page is hyperlinked on the name above.

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

Chinese banana is most likely a Musella Lasiocarpa. Other names are Chinese Yellow Banana and Golden Lotus Banana. The wiki page is hyperlinked on the name above.

I'm bettin' Bryan is right, but could be Iterans or basjoo as well, since that's where they originated. Good Luck :^)

[Dalmatiansoap]

Dwarf Cavendish in my opinion

[Gardener972]

The lady at the nursery said it is not a musa basjoo. She said this one tolerates more cold than a musa basjoo although I thought that one was the most cold hardy. She did said it does not produce bananas (here??) but is grown for the foliage. Does that help?

Oh, and she said it produces a big yellow blossom.

[natej740]

Originally Posted by Gardener972

Oh, and she said it produces a big yellow blossom.

Yep it is definitely a "Musella Lasiocarpa" then


It is not as hardy as a musa basjoo though

[Bananaman88]

Dwarf Cavendish barely tolerates 40 degrees, much less anything approaching zero. They are real wimps when it comes to cold tolerance.

[LilRaverBoi]

Originally Posted by Gardener972

She did said it does not produce bananas (here??) but is grown for the foliage. Does that help?

Oh, and she said it produces a big yellow blossom.

If I was a betting man, I'd put all my banana bucks on Musella lasiocarpa Sounds exactly like the description and name....but yeah, the cold tolerance if good, from what I've heard, but I don't know that it's more cold tolerant than basjoo. Should survive in your area, though, no problem.

[Dean W.]

I called a local nursery and asked them if they had any bananas. They said, "yes, red or green ones."

[LilRaverBoi]

Originally Posted by Dean W.

I called a local nursery and asked them if they had any bananas. They said, "yes, red or green ones."

LMFAO....ahhhh, the ubiquitous garden center banana ignorance! Honestly, unless you get bananas from a knowledgeable source, positive ID's are few and far between. LOL...the 'red banana' is probably a E. maurelii too!

[palmtree]

Sounds a lot like a Musella Lasiocarpa, Technically not really a banana (not in the family musa), but it looks a lot like one and is very very closely related. It wont grow tall and will make a brilliant flower and die. And then pups will take its place. I think they are pretty tolerant of zone 8 winters and can handle to 5F with only a little mulch (not sure they will flower if they die to the ground every winter though).

[chong]

Originally Posted by Dalmatiansoap

Dwarf Cavendish in my opinion

Yes, I agree. The Dwarf Cavendish is also referred to as Chinese Banana. If the identifier includes "Yellow", then it would be the Mussella Lasiocarpa. Absent this, then it would generally refer to the D. Cavendish.

[Abnshrek]

Originally Posted by Dean W.

I called a local nursery and asked them if they had any bananas. They said, "yes, red or green ones."

Thanks.. that is to funny and I needed a good laugh :^)