buffy

Based on my research of the area, Xishuangbanna never sees anything remotely cold. Where did this myth come from?

Gabe15

They are native up to 1,600m (5,200ft) and in areas with seasonal frost, the high elevation areas are much different than nearby lowlands.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

bigdog

Well, it's not a myth that Musa itinerans is cold-hardy. That is a well-established fact. Nobody's really tried var. xishuangbannaensis outside of Southeast Asia yet though, so we don't know for sure. However, when I see var. itinerans survive easily through a zone 7b winter with no mulch, I do have some hope that var. xishuangbannaensis will be cold-hardy also. They are the same species after all, just a different variety. The extra biomass that var. xishuang has can do nothing but help its potential cold-hardiness also.

Dean W.

Good to know. I'll have to add it to my wish list.

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