jeffreyp

What Are The Best Ornamental Banana Trees?

ScienceDaily (Feb. 26, 2009) — Bananas, known most often as a healthy, convenient food, are also popular ornamental plants in the southern United States. Banana plants are highly prized by many as one of the most beautiful ornamentals used for creating a subtropical ambiance in gardens and pool environments.

A research study published in the American Society for Horticultural Science journal HortTechnology detailed a study of 33 commercial banana cultivars grown near Savannah, Georgia. The study was designed to determine suitability for ornamental and nursery production and to observe the bananas' fruit production.

Gerard Krewer, Esendugue Greg Fonash, Mark Rieger, David Linvill, and Ben Mullinax of the University of Georgia, and Richard Wallace of Armstrong Atlantic University, undertook the multi-year research project with the objective of finding recommendations for income-producing ornamental banana cultivars for use by gardeners and nurseries in southern Georgia.

Many of the cultivars flowered and began producing fruit in late summer during the second year of the study. Of particular note were two cultivars named 'Manzano' and '1780', which produced more than six high-quality suckers for nursery propagation, resulting in a potential income of more than $60 per plant.

The outcomes of the study can be helpful for home gardeners, landscape professionals, and nursery owners who want to expand the use of banana plants in the region. Krewer explained; "This research identified a number of outstanding cultivars of large, medium and small size adapted to the USDA middle 8b region.

sandy0225

They're not really rating them as best ornamantal in my opinion though. They are really rating most productive in a residential setting! I would think ornamental would be non-fruiting for decorative purposes, really, wouldn't you? like Bordelon or Ensete Maurelii, or siam ruby or margarita.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

coast crab

For me it has to be my tall red, Thai black, Siam ruby and ae ae. These are the standouts in my collection.

Russell

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jeffreyp

Me too I favor the tall reds.

sandy0225

Yep, you can't beat the tall red heads! When I was about 25, my best friend was a 6' redhead. When we went out, the boys never even looked at me. I had to coast by on her rejects and leftovers! LOL.....

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!