Hardy Banana Trees: How To Grow And Care For A Cold Hardy Banana Tree

Love the look of lush tropical foliage? There is a plant that can help transform your garden landscape into a bit of the Hawaiian tropics, even if your winters tend to be less than balmy. The genus Musa are cold-hardy banana plants that grow well and overwinter up to USDA plant hardiness zone 4. You may need some space for growing a cold hardy banana tree though, as most specimens attain heights of 12 to 18 feet (3.5 to 5.5 m.).

Hardy Banana Tree Growing

Hardy banana trees like to be grown in full to partial sun and well-drained, moist soil. The hardy banana tree is actually an herbaceous perennial (the world's largest) despite being referred to as a tree. What looks like a trunk is actually tightly bound banana tree leaves. This “trunk” is botanically referred to as pseudostem, which means false stem. 

The interior of the banana tree pseudostem is where all the growth of the plant takes place, similar to a canna lily. The giant leaves of the cold-hardy banana tree -- some species may become eleven feet (3 m.) long -- serve a useful purpose. During tropical storms or hurricanes, the leaf will shred along each side. 

Although a bit unsightly, the raggedy look keeps the leaves of the banana tree from being snapped off in the high winds. Propagation of the hardy banana tree is achieved through division, which will take a sharp spade and strong back.

Hardy Banana Types

The pseudostem of the hardy banana has a short lifespan, living only long enough to flower and fruit. This process can often take more than a year, so when planting in colder climates, you will be unlikely to see any fruit. If you do see fruit, consider yourself lucky, but the fruit will probably be inedible. Some varieties of cold-hardy banana trees include:

• Musa basjoo, which is the largest variety and the most cold-hardy
• Musella lasiocarpa or dwarf banana, a relative of the banana tree with gigantic, yellow, artichoke-shaped fruit
• Musa velutina or pink banana, which is an early bloomer so more apt to bear fruit (albeit too seedy to eat)

These fruitless hardy banana tree species have been grown in the Ryukyu Island of Japan since the 13th century, and the fiber from the shoots is used in the weaving of textiles or even to make paper. For our more purely ornamental purposes, however, the hardy banana is lovely combined with bright, colored annuals or other tropical plants like canna and elephants ear.

Hardy Banana Trees Winter Care

Banana trees winter care is simple. Hardy banana trees grow rapidly, as much as 12 feet (3.5 m.) with 6-inch (15 cm.) leaves in one season. Once the first frost hits, the hardy banana will die back to the ground. To overwinter your hardy banana, prior to the first frost, cut back stems and leaves, leaving 8-10 inches (20.5-25.5 cm.) above ground. 

The hardy banana will then need good heavy mulch piled over the top of the remaining crown. Sometimes, depending on the size of your banana tree, this pile of mulch may be several feet (1 m.) high. For ease of removal the following spring, make a chicken wire cage to lay over the crown prior to mulching. Hardy banana trees can also be container planted, which can then be moved to a frost-free area.