rlohrenz

Hi All,

I found this place while researching the best banana variety for me.
I live outside Tucson, AZ and my hardiness zone is 9A (20-25). So I believe I will need one of the colder weather plants, as it frosts over a few nights a year here. What I am not sure about, and unable to find out easily is what species can take the full hot sun (up to ~110F in summer)?

We started out wanting a banana plant for landscaping by our pool, but I try to grow only plants that provide food (just a personal philosophy). The primary function I guess is for looks. We want something that is around 10-12ft tall if we can (definitely no taller than 15ft).

Based on my research, I think the Rajapuri, Goldfinger (FHIA-01), Ice cream, Ca Gold, or even a Cavendish (will the dwarf be tall enough or will the regular be too tall?) would be a good choice.

Any recommendations from there? Also, after reading a lot of threads here, I see that actually getting what you want is difficult. What is a reliable source? I'd like to start as large as I can feasibly go (for the landscaping aspects), but will do what is needed to get the right plant.

Thank you!
Ryan

figsofcourse

Find a reputable nursery or come down to Phoenix for nursery or the AZRFG plant sales (fall is next, November?). Or, find people who are into plants online that you can buy from. Buying a pup from someone's yard locally is a pretty good step up, when possible.

A lot of nursery plants are tissue cultured and you can avoid mix-ups down the line if you purchase dug-out pups of known cultivars. That said, any banana will provide you beauty by the pool and be fun to grow.

Where you live just expect to have to protect your stems in winter, or at least get ready for the tops to die off. The sun can also be a problem, and I've lost a number to sunburn. Make additional plantings / microclimate to ensure they have some sun protection here in AZ.

Dwarf varieties are preferred but Ice Cream is also popular. It does require propping when it fruits. Since we do get a freeze every year, it takes longer to get fruit and may not happen on the first stalk. You can always buy more banana plants to try and stack the odds in your favor That's what I do anyway!

From what I read CA Gold = Orinoco, and all of the varieties you mention have been fruited here in Phoenix. The only tepid reviews on fruit here is that 1000 fingers are too tiny to bother with, the monsoon winds can really hammer the taller ones, and the red varieties are a bit cold sensitive.

Tytaylor77

I agree with Figsofcourse. Here we get temps 105+ and crazy Texas sun. We have high humidity all the time here in East Texas but most take the heat ok. As long as they are watered enough! They have a natural built in protection! They fold their leaves to limit the sun hitting them! It’s very cool!

I would stay away from Cavendish or other cold sensitive types. Dwarf Orinoco (real Cali gold is a form of dwarf Orinoco), ice cream, dwarf namwa, Raja puri does very well!, goldfinger, dwarf Brazilian,and Mysore even if it’s taller!

Good luck!

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