Kevin

Does anyone know what types of bananas are planted in the Vancouver and coastal areas of B.C.? I saw a lot at English Bay.

There was also a very nice deep red or burgundy type at VanDusen Botanical Gardens. Does anyone know what this one is?

Is the season long enough in these areas to produce fruit?

Do you think any of them would need protection for the winter? I'm wondering if the city would bother covering anything that they plant.

lorax

Primarily Musa basjoo, which are ornamentals rather than edibles. I'd guess that the burgundies at VanDusen are either 'Siam Ruby' or Ensete 'Maurelii,' the latter being the hardier of the two.

A single season isn't enough to produce fruit in Canada, but two seasons are if you're commited to digging up the plants or mulching them in for overwintering. I'd start with a Dwarf Cavendish if I were you - they're readily available, difficult to kill, and reasonably hardy.

palmtree

I agree. Musa basjoo is your best bet but I have also heard of some musellas (chinese yellow bananas) there as well. These both do not produce edible fruit, the chinese yellow banana does make a beautiful flower at a very small height though. You can plant one that fruits, and dig them up every year. It takes anywhere from 3-5 years for it to make fruit from a baby depending on the growing conditions.

Usually musa basjoo and chinese yellow bananas only require some mulch in Vancouver's climate and if planted in a nice spot probably wont need any care at all.

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Location: New York City, zone 7b

Kevin

Thanks. This wasn't really a question in regards to my own plants, but rather what they do out there (I am in Winnipeg, but recently visited Vancouver). I think the ones at the Botanical gardens would probably be protected for the winter, but I was wondering if the city of Vancouver would bother protecting anything that they plant. Is there anyone on this forum from there that would know?