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Hardy Banana

Musa Basjoo

Design with this plant

Overview

Musa basjoo, or Hardy Banana, is a robust herbaceous perennial, reaching heights of 6-14 ft with a 6-10 ft spread. Its pseudo-stem and broad, arching leaves create a tropical effect. Hardy to USDA Zone 7, it survives temperatures down to 0°F when mulched. Fast-growing, it prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil. Not a fruit producer, but its dramatic foliage provides a lush, exotic landscape element.

Sun Full, HalfWater HighZones 10–11Climate Subtropical
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — Its pseudo-stem and broad, arching leaves create a tropical effect

Culture

Sun
Full, Half
Water
High
USDA zones
10–11

Shape & size

Classification

Family
Musaceae
Climate
Subtropical

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Photos (58)

Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — this herbaceous perennial is remarkably cold-hardy; commonly referred to as the Hardy Banana, image 50
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — Native to the Ryukyu Islands off Japan; perennial for full or half, image 49
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — emerging from stout trunks that are actually pseudo-stems composed of leaf sheaths; is a striking addition to any, image 53
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — bright green leaves that can reach lengths of 6 to 10 feet and widths of up to 2 feet; is a robust herbaceous perennial, image 52
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — Be sure to educate the client on winter care practices; reaching heights of 6-14 ft with a 6-10 ft spread, image 55
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — capable of withstanding temperatures as low as -20°F when properly mulched; the creamy-yellow flowers that precede, image 51
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — the creamy-yellow flowers that precede it add a unique point of interest in the summer; be sure to educate the client, image 54
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — yellow flowers in the garden; its pseudo-stem and broad, arching leaves create a tropical effect, image 58
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — to ensure year-round enjoyment of this exotic beauty; such as mulching around the base to protect the rhizome in, image 57
Hardy Banana (Musa Basjoo) — such as mulching around the base to protect the rhizome in colder climates; native to the Ryukyu Islands off Japan, image 56

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