Saturday, August 30, 2014

Musa ''African Red '' Banana





I acquired this ornamental banana as a very healthy corm this past fall from Zone 9 Tropicals in Houston, Tx.. I overwintered it in a greenhouse during the very cold winter and put it in the ground where it will stay, in early spring here in zone 8b South Louisiana. I am advised it does well here, even though it freezes to the ground most winters, it returns to full form every summer.

 It's a promising specimen, appears true to name, and is one of those plants you'll want where you can see it's deep rich red often. It should reach maturity next summer at I'm thinking 10 feet high and 8 feet wide, as the grove becomes acclimated to its new environment. It is now about 7 feet high and 4 feet wide.