Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

I'm fairly new to nana's. I have 3 fruit bearing varieties (Apple, pisang ceylon, Hua Mua) nanas in the back yard that are doing well.

My question is concerning ornamental nanas. I'm considering them for a front yard landscape project. Nanas that are attractive and not very large would be the preference.

What varieties should I consider for my climate in South Florida?

Thx

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

Ornata can get fairly tall!!

Velutina is a shorter type. Only pink fuzzy flowers though.

Lesiocarpa (Japanese yellow) is a very pretty long lasting big yellow flower. They stay short. They pup like the world is ending!

Lots of super dwarf cavendish down there would do ok and make a very cool (edible) hedge! Careful though a lot don’t flower. Logees sells one that flowers. So does JD from Cameron, LA. He’s on here and ususally has a lot of pups.

Many other seeded ones but it may be hard to get the planting material. I’m sure there is others if you can find the plants!

Keep us updated!

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

Wow, some of those are beautiful. Great colors. Choosing is where I have difficulty.
The Velutina and Lesiocarpa would be nice lookers. I don't mind cutting the occasional pups but I wonder how crazy the Lesiocarpa gets.

The Ensete Maurelii Red Abyssinian Banana tree looks quite appealing too but seems to grow quite large. I imagine keeping it root-bound in a large container could solve that.
Blood banana - Musa Zebrina is another good looker.
I don't think I want edibles in the front yard. I'd get anal about fertilizing them for yield and just spend too much time and fert I think.

Thx

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

musa 'Siam Ruby'

briansbotanicals - Musa Siam Ruby

musa coccinea

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

siam ruby. beautiful.

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

I'm surprised that musa coccinea isn't popular in Florida. I would think that it would be sold in local nurseries such as Home Depot. In 1987, I grew it in the Chicago area (zone 5) from pseudostem sections bought from a Florida grower. It forms clumps like heliconia and is similarly used in the cut flower trade of Hawaii.

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

So I ordered and received my Siam Ruby. Nicely enough, the seller sent me 2 plants instead of 1. They are very small atm but they should grow pretty quick then be ready to transplant them into the ground.

Should I plant the pair together? How far apart should I keep them?

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

Better to plant them far enough apart so they don't shade each other when full grown.

Re: Advice on choosing ornamental nanas for landscape
 

In that case there's only enough space for one so question answered.