saebrith

Hi, I'm new to this site (and to bananas in general), and I've been trying to get some information about a banana plant.

I was given the plant at least 10 years ago, and by my best guess it's about 10-12 feet tall. I have some pictures of it in my gallery (not sure how to link to them from here). If any other pictures are needed, let me know.

What I want to know, is if this is the type of tree that will ever grow fruit (someone mentioned that it might just be ornamental) If so, what sorts of things would I need to do to help the process along? I was always under the impression that bananas couldn't grow outside of tropical regions, but I've recently learned that it gets hot enough here (in lower Alabama) to grow them as well.

I was also told that I'll need to plant another banana in order to grow fruit, and I'm not sure how to do that either. I just wanted to make sure that it can be done before I start doing anything.

the flying dutchman

Hi and a very welcome saebrith, you don't need an other banana in order to get fruit. If it sets fruit it depends on the specie wether it is edible or not. Actually I think if you have it 10 years
now it is a bit strange it hasn't flowered yet. Has it produced
pups c.q suckers???
I am sure there will be members who can identify this or at least
say if it is a edible type.
By the way, it always handy if you put your zone and the place
you live in your profile.

Ron

Here are your pics.

saebrith

It's kind of odd, but I don't recall it ever having flowered or anything. It died and regrew several times when it was smaller, but winters haven't been getting that cold lately.

And as I said, I'm very new to bananas. Where would I find pups?

the flying dutchman

Pups(better suckers) are new shoots coming out from the corm at the base of the plant.

ron

saebrith

Oh, well there are several, then. Are there just some bananas that never flower? Or do they just grow inedible fruit? I'm not really clear on that.

the flying dutchman

Okay, here you go, altough I am not a specialist i would say any banana
can flower. The thing is it depends on the circumstances it grows.
You probably have a cold-hardy banana and by saying that it might be inedible too as it will be a seeded one in that case.
I could be mistaking, but as it grows back after frosts it looks like that.
I still hope someone can identify it.

Ron