Banana Tree

 

Japanese Fiber Banana
Musa basjoo

aka Hardy banana

12-15' tall

full sun

keep soil moist

propogated by dividing the rootballs

hardy to -20 degrees F

after frost, cut to 2' and mulch with 6-12" of straw around the trunk in the winter. Wrap in burlap or wrap with christmas lights to keep it warm

Native to southern China

A one-gallon Musa basjoo will grow to about 5 feet in the first year and produce many off sets (pups). A large clump reaching to 10 feet can be expected in the second year and mature height in the third. With plenty of food and water a Musa basjoo can produce a new leaf in 7-10 days.

I planted this last spring. It has been slow to start but is now starting to take off. I did nothing to overwinter it, but we had a very mild winter with minimal snow and few below freezing days. 

The above photo taken May 2012