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JuniPerez
06-11-2010, 01:22 PM
Hello.

I'm trying to sketch out a layout for my garden... but I'm having a hard time with the creative genes (which I sort of lack).

What other plants are used alongside bananas that go nicely with them? So far I've used canna lilies, and this year started using elephant ears. Does anyone have actual layouts or know where they have layouts for this? I don't plan on copying them, but it would lead me in the right direction.

Jack Daw
06-11-2010, 01:26 PM
In tropical countries they use pineapples.

sandy0225
06-11-2010, 01:34 PM
hardy hibiscus, rhubarb (large tropical looking leaves, but hardy/edible), coleus (the sun varieties), naranjilla, datura, brugmansia, are some of the ones I'm using this year.

Gardener972
06-11-2010, 05:33 PM
I would put a tall THIN plant with it and a shorter ROUND plant. Also, palms look nice with them.

Dean W.
06-11-2010, 06:23 PM
I just bought some Alocasia today to go with mine.

Abnshrek
06-11-2010, 06:30 PM
I use saw palms & EE's along with flowers that are not annuals & don't die here. :^)

palmtree
06-11-2010, 06:38 PM
Cannas are excelent especially ones of varying heights (there are dwarfs that flower at under 2 feet tall but tall ones that can get to 12 feet before flowering). Dark especially black colored elephant ears can really complement the green color of banana plants. A hardy hibiscus such as texas star or rose of sharon will survive the winter and look great planted right next to cannas. Purple heart plants or wandering jew plants (both are in the same family, will make fast tropical ground covers. You can easily root cuttings to save for next year. I think the wandering jew plants show the most color in partial shade and the purple heart in more sun. They both can handle mostly shade or full sun.

Also crape myrtles might make nice complements and are probably semi-hardy in your area (some cold tolerant varieties probably survive a zone 6).
Hawaiian ti plants, philodendrons, and begonias are all great tropicals you can plant in the ground and dig up when fall comes into pots.

Good luck! Think lots of color and different textures.

JuniPerez
06-11-2010, 07:55 PM
Thanks everyone ... lots of great ideas... I was still going blank here. lol.

jeffreyp
06-11-2010, 10:24 PM
Elephant Ears / Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant Strain' (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g7OTD4nHkjk/SWQTxkujUJI/AAAAAAAABpc/9KSGKpwA0s8/s400/Colocasia+gigantea+Thailand+Giant+Strain.jpg), hostas, ginger, Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White Giant', Saccharum arundinaceum ( http://image12.webshots.com/13/9/23/68/156092368aRQQro_fs.jpg ), or even juvenile chinese fan palms (http://www.rlawn.com/plantGUIDE/XL/Chinese_Fan_Palms.jpg) would look great.

cherokee_greg
06-11-2010, 11:11 PM
check this link out
Do It Yourself Landscaping: Tropical Looking Plants That Can Live In Other Climates (http://www.essortment.com/home/tropicalgarden_sara.htm)

Tropicallvr
06-12-2010, 01:39 PM
Gingers look good. My favorite compainion plant for potted Musa is succulents, they have a really shollow root base so they don't choke the banana for water/space.

Abnshrek
06-12-2010, 02:16 PM
Gingers look good. My favorite companion plant for potted Musa is succulents, they have a really shallow root base so they don't choke the banana for water/space.

That's good cause my neighbor offered me some yesterday. :^)

mbfirey
06-14-2010, 09:19 AM
You can get cheap Elephant ears- by buying "Yautia" at any latin or Asian grocery store. Since your boricua you already probably know what Yautia is....

JuniPerez
06-14-2010, 09:58 AM
You can get cheap Elephant ears- by buying "Yautia" at any latin or Asian grocery store. Since your boricua you already probably know what Yautia is....

Yeah, those are the ones I'm using... almost tempted to boil and serve with codfish, but I resisted the Boricua impulses and just planted them. :ha:

The Hollyberry Lady
06-14-2010, 10:21 AM
I like Lilies and Banana plants together. Here's my SDC pup in my Lily garden...


http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/DSCI2879.jpg


: )

Bananaman88
06-14-2010, 11:35 AM
I did an entire article on this exact topic in one of our Bananas Quarterly issues last year. I'm not sure if you had subscribed or not but it was in the combined issue last year (Volume 1, No. 3-4). You may be able to get it if you contact Jarred (Media Hound).

mbfirey
06-14-2010, 11:53 AM
Noticed any difference when planting "yautia lila" "yautia blanca" and Malanga- all supposed to be Xanthosoma sagittifolium but there have some differences in each plant?

JuniPerez
06-14-2010, 01:16 PM
Noticed any difference when planting "yautia lila" "yautia blanca" and Malanga- all supposed to be Xanthosoma sagittifolium but there have some differences in each plant?

Xanthosoma has the "V" notch reaching all the way to the leaf stem. Colocasia does not reach the stem. Yautia lila is my favorite for food... I wouldn't be able to resist boiling the tuber, or better yet, slicing and frying much like plantain (tostones) - sorry.

mbfirey
06-14-2010, 05:56 PM
I'm sure there's a difference in flavor, but I wonder if they have differences when planted?>>
I've only planted one so far, and I forgot if it was "lila" or white...but It's got 2 leaves now.
I've tried to plant malanga a few times but I guess the tubers were old because they rotted on me.

Dean W.
06-27-2010, 06:57 AM
I just put this bed in yesterday. Elephant ears with Zan Morenos.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33309&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33309)

RayS
06-29-2010, 05:00 PM
I have mine in with callas, giant callas, cannas, pineapple plants, elephant ears, black elephant ear and some sun tolerant caladiums (Florida Cardinal).