aroidgrower

I would like to get a list of all the different forms of musa or related plants that have been tested in zones 6 nd 7 or colder. I have been testing banana for over 8 years and would like to see if their are some I dont have or ones we might be over looking?

Basjoo
itinerans TC from?
Sikkimensis
musella lasiacarpa
dwarf orinaco did not do well but survived

the flying dutchman

Brian, that would indeed be a very valuable list. It has been discussed in
several threads and I have talked about it with Gabe once.
The thing is you should describe exactly with what you mean with hardiness.
Normally it means 'Hardy without protection'. Then a young plant is less
hardy than a older one. It is difficult to make a list and put "Hardy' or 'Not hardy' on it because there are more factors. Rainfall, winds, duration of frosts etc.
Maybe in the future we can create a Info-page about this with the experiences of the members for each so called Hardy-banana, that will give more information at least for us I think.

Ron

Randy4ut

I am fairly new to this (3 years), but I think one Musa that has been exceptionally hardy for me is the M. velutina... I have added several new species this year, so maybe in the future I would be able to give an update on some others... Good luck and I will definitely be watching this thread...

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mrbungalow

Greg Smith mentions Dwarf Brazilians producing fruit in central pensylvania! (Zone 6-7 ???)
Bananaing in Pa. Zone 6

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bigdog

Well, you can add Randy's Musa velutina to that list, Brian, but not my M. velutina, lol. We have two different forms, his being much taller than mine.

With a bit of extra mulch, M. 'Royal Purple' survived last winter (low here of 8F at my house, 12F at the Knoxville airport). It should be noted, however, that it hasn't grown very well this year at all for whatever reason, and is still quite small and slow-growing.

Musa cheesmani survived with a trash bag of leaves thrown over the top of it, as well as some extra mulch. It is now growing at a decent pace, but my acid soils make the leaves a bit deformed.

I have a 'Tall Orinoco' against the west side of the house that not only survived, but came back very strong.

I have quite a few others being tested here this year as well. Hopefully I'll have something exciting to add to the list.

I would like to ask you some questions about a few Musas on your website, Brian. First, Musa beccarii won't even survive in zone 8 Alabama, so how is it reliable in zone 7? It is the first banana to die back to the ground in Orlando, FL, and does so when temps get down into the low 40s/high 30s.
Second, I don't think the plant you are selling as Musa "textilus" is the real Musa textilis. How did you come about that ID? The plant I got from you is nice and strong though.
Third, what is Musa Bordeline? Is it somehow similar to Musa Bordelon?

Sorry for all the questions. I tried PM'ing you some time back, but I guess you have been very busy. Thanks,

Frank