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View Full Version : Musa 'Royal Purple' - nice, cold-hardy ornamental


bigdog
05-17-2007, 10:19 PM
Again, the low in my yard was 8F (twice) this winter, so a zone 7b. Knoxville's official low was 13F. We only had one day with a high below freezing, and that was around 29F or 30F. Still, with only a couple of inches of mulch for protection, I was happy to see my Musa 'Royal Purple' return this year. It started sprouting in very early May, right around the first. Here's what it looks like today (admittedly, not much!). I like these pics for "before and after" pictures for later in the season. Only one bloom last year, hopefully I'll get at least two this season. Pics are in my gallery (somewhere) and in the ornamental bananas gallery (I think) of the bloom.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=3055&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3055&ppuser=49)

GATrops
05-17-2007, 10:40 PM
Hi Bigdog,

Do you get a bloom last year from a plant that overwintered in the ground?


Richard

bigdog
05-17-2007, 10:52 PM
Richard,

No, I started off with a small plant from Tom in St. Marys (you probably know him) last year, planted sometime in July. It bloomed in late August last year, so I imagine it will have plenty of time to bloom this year. I'll keep you posted though! Gary Hollar in New Bern, zone 8a, has a huge mat of this plant that blooms profusely.

Frank

bigdog
06-26-2007, 09:56 PM
Well, I'm not sure why it doesn't grow any quicker than it is now. I have found a few termites munching on some coleus (took care of them QUICKLY!) in a couple of beds, but do they eat banana roots? My other thought was voles, but wouldn't the plant be dead by now? Anyhow, here's what this pitiful little plant looks like today, after over a month and a half after sprouting from the ground.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=3821&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3821&ppuser=49)

I suppose it is growing, but I'm beginning to wonder if I'll get a bloom or not this year. At its current growth rate, probably not!

MediaHound
06-26-2007, 10:09 PM
Don't know, but mine's blooming now
:2748:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=3827&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3827)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=3826&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=3826)

xyzzy
06-27-2007, 05:23 AM
It looks similar to a plant I have which was sold as merely Musa Violet. I an sure that is not it's real name.

My plant seems exceptionally cold hardy too.

Have any of you ever heard of M Violet? Is it really the same plant do you think?

bigdog
06-27-2007, 09:13 AM
I'm fairly confident that Musa sp. 'Violet' is an altogether different plant, but who knows? I could be wrong!!

Pics?

xyzzy
06-27-2007, 12:16 PM
I can see I am going to spend Saturday photographing all my bananas!

JoeReal
06-27-2007, 07:30 PM
if only their fruits are palatable ...