Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

Hello everyone, I am new to Banana growing and recently bought some cold hardy varieties off of the internet. I came across this one today at a local nursery for sale for 20 dollars so I couldn't pass it up as its huge for that price. The owner had no idea what is was, and it had busted out of its pot and was growing on top of the dirt, and has about 5 small pups in the roots. The trip home roughed the leaves up a bit. I have no idea what it is, and I bet it's not cold hardy like my others. I hope somebody can help me identify it so I know if I have to put it in my garage.:08:

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I guess I will be the first to guess Wrong Basjoo.
EDIT:

Musa Basjoo - Bananas Wiki
MY Basjoo 10-5-03

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I have not quite figured out how to do this forum stuff yet, does a Basjoo have the winged petioles on the larger leaves. I have a small Basjoo and it does, and the older leaves on the large one does, but the wings seem to collapse inward on the newer bigger leaves.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

Does it look like an Orinoco? The leaves look similar in pics I have seen on the net.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

It looks a lot like Orinoco, but it could also be another ABB type such as Namwah. The only way to tell is until it blooms. My money is on Orinoco though. What's clear to me is that it certainly isn't Basjoo, Basjoo doesn't have wax on the petioles, closed petioles, and has more pronounced leaf veins. It's also a more vivid green color.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

The stems have kind of a powder on them I noticed. The petioles I mean. I guess maybe the only way to tell its hardiness is to plant one of the pups outdoors this winter?

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

Hey it does look like a hua moa

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

The more I look at it, the more it looks like Hua Moa, but also Rajapuri, I think it's one of the two, anybody? Which part of the forum do I ask about overwintering a bare root non hardy 8 foot banana lol.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I think it's Orinoco and not fat enough to be namwah.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

yeah so I guess my determining factor for the basjoo was that it was busting out of its pot with many pup. . .only $20. . . wax is very pronounced, looking quick I think I interpreted as truck-bed debris. . . and the veins in the leaves are close. . . yea I'm glad these folks on here straighten me out ;) Orinoco type

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

The 1st post looks like an Orinoco.. The basjoo looks a lot like a hoa moa.. :^)

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

Yeah thats me old farm truck, helps transport stuff like bananas lol. I dont think the nursery guy was very knowlegeable, or just didnt care, and he had two of the bananas. One was fixing to push its way out of the top of the greenhouse cover, and I bet would bloom soon. I asked him if it was root hardy and he said no, that I would have to keep it in a garage or something. but when I mentioned Basjoo, and other cold hardy species, he had no idea what I was talking about. It was too big for me to get out of the place by myself, and he is like 80 years old. I had to carry the plant down a isle about 30 yards between greenhouse shelves, plants, and hanging baskets, and then up a hill, but when he told me 20 dollars I was determined to do it. I was afraid I would break off the rootball. I guess the best way to see if its hardy is to sacrifice one of the pups next winter with a heavy mulch, and see if it survives the cold. Its probably too late in the year for it to adapt this fall? So identification will be much easier with a bloom? I have a greenhouse but its only about 8 feet tall, I guess I could dig a hole in the floor a couple of feet deep and place the pot in it. The other banana pseudostem was at least 8 feet, not counting the leaves. It was a pretty big plant. This ones pseudostem is about 6 feet, and with leaves is about 8. If I can preserve the pseudostem, do you think it will bloom next year?

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I can't help you on anything but thanks for the visual of wrestling that monster out of the "nursery" to your truck; I needed to LOL today and now I have.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

Lol, it was rough!

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I think the tightly closed petoiles pretty much guarantee a cold hardy plant whatever it is - i vote orinoco

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I don't think it's a Hua Moa.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I hope so, that would be awesome.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I think it looked kinda like a Hua Moa at first because it was growing inside a greenhouse and the leaves were protected, but since I have it outside now, the leaves are starting to look more like banana leaves I am used to seeing, and not so flat, so Yep I don't think its a Hua Moa.

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

I just noticed that you are zone 7 - whatever it is, it will still need protection if you intend to save the pstem from freezing back to the ground. you might be able to leave it outside in zone 8 or 9 but in 7 probably not...

Re: Can you identify this Banana plant?
 

Do you think the roots would survive or maybe the pstem if I wrap it?