Sunday, July 18, 2010

Our Zebrine Banana tree

Here is it just after planting the one gallon tree in the front garden. It is a Zebrine Banana tree, supposedly a dwarf banana and not hardy in our area, so I plan on digging it up in the late fall.
May 14th
It took a little while to get used to the heat and dry conditions here, then it took off.

Then by June 18th it started to really take off.


Here we are on July 1.
Now on July 8th! Growing new leaves every 4-5 days, these leaves are over 2 foot long.
June 11 still growing. The phlox in the background and Mountain Mint in the foreground.
Now from today July 18th.Just 2 months and few days after planting the one gallon plant. See at the base of the lighter green leaf another new leaf. What can I say I enjoy this plant a great deal. Although I'm not sure how big it'll be in another 2 months or 4 months when I have to dig it out of the garden to protect it from winter. BTW it already has a baby plant at the base!

27 comments:

Bangchik and Kakdah said...

Very ornamental indeed, with such colourful leaves. It must be an effort to save it from the cold winter, again and again. But it should be worth it. Our banana here keep growing in this seamless tropical climate....
Cheers, ~bangchik

Southern Lady said...

Wow! Cool plant. Carla

UrsulaV said...

The banana is awesome--but I'm just happy to see somebody else growing mountain mint! I have become some kind of weird plant evangelist for the stuff, and nobody ever seems to have heard of it...

Les said...

I grow Musa basjoo which is completely hardy, but not as interesting as yours. I also grow 'Siam Ruby' which I dig up every fall. Both have struggled in our drought to put on any real growth.

Town Mouse said...

Wow! That's impressive, though I'm glad I don't have to do the transpant. Maybe next time, a wine barrel would be a good choice...

Corner Gardener Sue said...

What a beauty! I wonder if you can just dig up the baby plant to keep over the winter.

Priscilla @ Homegrown Delight said...

Very nice and exotic banana tree! It's so pretty with all the flowers :)

Phillip Oliver said...

Very striking and unusual. A plant that will get lots of comments, for sure.

Andrea said...

Wow, that banana is really beautiful. I am from the tropics but haven't seen a banana like that. I will certainly follow up on its progress, maybe the flower will be pink. I wonder if there are variegations also in the fruits. Thank you. BTW, can it probably be eaten?

Anonymous said...

Very striking and a real conversation starter for sure. You always have such amazing photos. I just came from my blog friend's in Ireland. She has some amazing moth photos that you would love at
http://bt-thecraftygardener.blogspot.com/2010/07/moths-and-stuff-19th-july-2010.html

Chloe m said...

That is a very unique plant!

I love the leaves...who needs flowers when you have leaves that look gorgeous like that!

tina said...

It's really pretty and makes quite a statement. Have fun digging it too. I dug my bananas out-or so I thought. They are still coming up. But maybe you might leave one in the ground to see if it will come back? Love your background garden.

F Cameron said...

Wow - that's really stunning! The color and texture looks fantastic in your garden.

Q said...

Very cool tree!
I bet it will get huge indoors too.
Will it ever produce bananas? Good reason to build a sun room!
Sherry

Anna/Flowergardengirl said...

Now that is some kind of growing machine. Very unusual and how nice it has produced offspring.

Hoping you are staying cool down in them there parts of NC. Hot as ever here. My plants are suffering and the tomatoes have forgotten how to bloom.

Meems said...

Those Zebrina bananas make quite the statement. I love them. Yours is doing really well and sited so nicely among the flowers.
Meems

Skeeter said...

The foliage on this banana is wonderful! I took out baby nanner plants last year to over winter. They have been slow to take off this year but I’m sure it is due to the lack of rain water. I water it with the hose but it seems to enjoy nature’s water more so then mine. You may want to take Sue’s advice, and dig up the babys instead. This thing may take over your house!

sweetbay said...

Beautiful color on those banana leaves! I love your Mountain Mint --such a cool silvery color -- and your garden phlox too.

F Cameron said...

Randy - I need your expertise about Ailanthus webworm moth -- the bugs are munching on the blooms of joe pye weed. Is this a good or bad bug?
Thanks!

Kanak said...

It's a striking plant.And planted amidst such beauty!

Kimberly said...

REALLY pretty banana. I've contemplated adding this to my garden, but I already have so many bananas. I like the color, though. Mine are just green.

inadvertent farmer said...

That is just a cool tree...I would love to have one! So tropical and fun! Kim

Victoria Williams said...

You've had a lot better luck than us with bananas. They only seem to do well in containers for us.

Corner Gardener Sue said...

I know I already left a comment, but wanted to ask you if you get wasps on your mountain mint like I do. I'm thinking I want to get some of those protective sleeves for when I see caterpillars, since there are so many of the wasps. I will need to wait until next year, though.

Anonymous said...

You have a beautiful garden. Thank you for sharing it with everyone. I grow bananas in my garden. I am in zone 8... I just cut them to ground level and cover them with 4 to 6 inches of mulch and they return in the spring. I just got a few of the zebrine bananas. I'm going to try the same technique with them. I just thought I'd throw that out there... It seems easier than digging them up. Happy gardening!

Unknown said...

very nice plant, where did you purchase it from? who supplies these?

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