Plants that complement bananas...

JuniPerez · 06-11-2010, 01:22 PM

Hello.

I'm trying to sketch out a layout for my garden... but I'm having a hard time with the creative genes (which I sort of lack).

What other plants are used alongside bananas that go nicely with them? So far I've used canna lilies, and this year started using elephant ears. Does anyone have actual layouts or know where they have layouts for this? I don't plan on copying them, but it would lead me in the right direction.

Jack Daw · 06-11-2010, 01:26 PM

In tropical countries they use pineapples.

sandy0225 · 06-11-2010, 01:34 PM

hardy hibiscus, rhubarb (large tropical looking leaves, but hardy/edible), coleus (the sun varieties), naranjilla, datura, brugmansia, are some of the ones I'm using this year.

Gardener972 · 06-11-2010, 05:33 PM

I would put a tall THIN plant with it and a shorter ROUND plant. Also, palms look nice with them.

Dean W. · 06-11-2010, 06:23 PM

I just bought some Alocasia today to go with mine.

Abnshrek · 06-11-2010, 06:30 PM

I use saw palms & EE's along with flowers that are not annuals & don't die here. :^)

palmtree · 06-11-2010, 06:38 PM

Cannas are excelent especially ones of varying heights (there are dwarfs that flower at under 2 feet tall but tall ones that can get to 12 feet before flowering). Dark especially black colored elephant ears can really complement the green color of banana plants. A hardy hibiscus such as texas star or rose of sharon will survive the winter and look great planted right next to cannas. Purple heart plants or wandering jew plants (both are in the same family, will make fast tropical ground covers. You can easily root cuttings to save for next year. I think the wandering jew plants show the most color in partial shade and the purple heart in more sun. They both can handle mostly shade or full sun.

Also crape myrtles might make nice complements and are probably semi-hardy in your area (some cold tolerant varieties probably survive a zone 6).
Hawaiian ti plants, philodendrons, and begonias are all great tropicals you can plant in the ground and dig up when fall comes into pots.

Good luck! Think lots of color and different textures.

JuniPerez · 06-11-2010, 07:55 PM

Thanks everyone ... lots of great ideas... I was still going blank here. lol.

jeffreyp · 06-11-2010, 10:24 PM

Elephant Ears / Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant Strain', hostas, ginger, Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White Giant', Saccharum arundinaceum ( http://image12.webshots.com/13/9/23/...8aRQQro_fs.jpg ), or even juvenile chinese fan palms would look great.

cherokee_greg · 06-11-2010, 11:11 PM

check this link out
Do It Yourself Landscaping: Tropical Looking Plants That Can Live In Other Climates

Tropicallvr · 06-12-2010, 01:39 PM

Gingers look good. My favorite compainion plant for potted Musa is succulents, they have a really shollow root base so they don't choke the banana for water/space.

Abnshrek · 06-12-2010, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tropicallvr

Gingers look good. My favorite companion plant for potted Musa is succulents, they have a really shallow root base so they don't choke the banana for water/space.

That's good cause my neighbor offered me some yesterday. :^)

mbfirey · 06-14-2010, 09:19 AM

You can get cheap Elephant ears- by buying "Yautia" at any latin or Asian grocery store. Since your boricua you already probably know what Yautia is....

JuniPerez · 06-14-2010, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbfirey

You can get cheap Elephant ears- by buying "Yautia" at any latin or Asian grocery store. Since your boricua you already probably know what Yautia is....

Yeah, those are the ones I'm using... almost tempted to boil and serve with codfish, but I resisted the Boricua impulses and just planted them.

The Hollyberry Lady · 06-14-2010, 10:21 AM

I like Lilies and Banana plants together. Here's my SDC pup in my Lily garden...

: )

Bananaman88 · 06-14-2010, 11:35 AM

I did an entire article on this exact topic in one of our Bananas Quarterly issues last year. I'm not sure if you had subscribed or not but it was in the combined issue last year (Volume 1, No. 3-4). You may be able to get it if you contact Jarred (Media Hound).

mbfirey · 06-14-2010, 11:53 AM

Noticed any difference when planting "yautia lila" "yautia blanca" and Malanga- all supposed to be Xanthosoma sagittifolium but there have some differences in each plant?

JuniPerez · 06-14-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbfirey

Noticed any difference when planting "yautia lila" "yautia blanca" and Malanga- all supposed to be Xanthosoma sagittifolium but there have some differences in each plant?

Xanthosoma has the "V" notch reaching all the way to the leaf stem. Colocasia does not reach the stem. Yautia lila is my favorite for food... I wouldn't be able to resist boiling the tuber, or better yet, slicing and frying much like plantain (tostones) - sorry.

mbfirey · 06-14-2010, 05:56 PM

I'm sure there's a difference in flavor, but I wonder if they have differences when planted?>>
I've only planted one so far, and I forgot if it was "lila" or white...but It's got 2 leaves now.
I've tried to plant malanga a few times but I guess the tubers were old because they rotted on me.

Dean W. · 06-27-2010, 06:57 AM

I just put this bed in yesterday. Elephant ears with Zan Morenos.

06-11-2010, 01:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
JuniPerez Puerto Rican Gone Bananas JuniPerez's Photo Gallery Location: Rochester, NY Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Juni Perez Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 313 BananaBucks : 79,939 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 153 Times Was Thanked 202 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Plants that complement bananas... Hello. I'm trying to sketch out a layout for my garden... but I'm having a hard time with the creative genes (which I sort of lack). What other plants are used alongside bananas that go nicely with them? So far I've used canna lilies, and this year started using elephant ears. Does anyone have actual layouts or know where they have layouts for this? I don't plan on copying them, but it would lead me in the right direction.

06-11-2010, 01:26 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jack Daw I think with my banana ;) Jack Daw's Photo Gallery Location: BA, SK, CEU Find me on the map! Zone: Dfa (Köppen-geiger) <-> 7b/8a? (USDA) Name: Jack Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3,525 BananaBucks : 212,738 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,771 Times Was Thanked 2,461 Times in 1,355 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 383 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... In tropical countries they use pineapples. __________________ Thnx to Marcel, Ante, Dr. Chiranjit Parmar and *Francesco* for the plants I've received. Zeitgeist - Corporatocracy 101 (~2hrs) Zeitgeist - Moving Forward (~2.5hrs)

06-11-2010, 01:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 362,737 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... hardy hibiscus, rhubarb (large tropical looking leaves, but hardy/edible), coleus (the sun varieties), naranjilla, datura, brugmansia, are some of the ones I'm using this year. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

06-11-2010, 05:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Gardener972 Location: north Dallas, TX Zone: 7b/8a Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 180 BananaBucks : 160,865 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 35 Times Was Thanked 84 Times in 40 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 10 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I would put a tall THIN plant with it and a shorter ROUND plant. Also, palms look nice with them.

06-11-2010, 06:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 239,881 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I just bought some Alocasia today to go with mine. __________________

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06-11-2010, 06:30 PM	#6 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 213,496 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I use saw palms & EE's along with flowers that are not annuals & don't die here. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

06-11-2010, 06:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
palmtree palmtree 's Photo Gallery Location: New York City Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Alex C Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,016 BananaBucks : 106,927 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,492 Times Was Thanked 1,428 Times in 644 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 103 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... Cannas are excelent especially ones of varying heights (there are dwarfs that flower at under 2 feet tall but tall ones that can get to 12 feet before flowering). Dark especially black colored elephant ears can really complement the green color of banana plants. A hardy hibiscus such as texas star or rose of sharon will survive the winter and look great planted right next to cannas. Purple heart plants or wandering jew plants (both are in the same family, will make fast tropical ground covers. You can easily root cuttings to save for next year. I think the wandering jew plants show the most color in partial shade and the purple heart in more sun. They both can handle mostly shade or full sun. Also crape myrtles might make nice complements and are probably semi-hardy in your area (some cold tolerant varieties probably survive a zone 6). Hawaiian ti plants, philodendrons, and begonias are all great tropicals you can plant in the ground and dig up when fall comes into pots. Good luck! Think lots of color and different textures. __________________ Location: New York City, zone 7b

06-11-2010, 07:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
JuniPerez Puerto Rican Gone Bananas JuniPerez's Photo Gallery Location: Rochester, NY Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Juni Perez Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 313 BananaBucks : 79,939 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 153 Times Was Thanked 202 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... Thanks everyone ... lots of great ideas... I was still going blank here. lol.

06-11-2010, 10:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
jeffreyp Zone 10, South Florida jeffreyp's Photo Gallery Location: Royal Palm Beach Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 870 BananaBucks : 142,605 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 30 Times Was Thanked 590 Times in 298 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... Elephant Ears / Colocasia gigantea 'Thailand Giant Strain', hostas, ginger, Zantedeschia aethiopica 'White Giant', Saccharum arundinaceum ( http://image12.webshots.com/13/9/23/...8aRQQro_fs.jpg ), or even juvenile chinese fan palms would look great. Last edited by jeffreyp : 06-11-2010 at 10:31 PM.

06-11-2010, 11:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
cherokee_greg Love those bananas cherokee_greg's Photo Gallery Location: Fresno,CA Find me on the map! Zone: zone 9 Name: Greg Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 4,357 BananaBucks : 295,185 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 8,066 Times Was Thanked 3,946 Times in 1,665 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 335 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... check this link out Do It Yourself Landscaping: Tropical Looking Plants That Can Live In Other Climates __________________ Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

06-12-2010, 01:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
Tropicallvr Member Tropicallvr's Photo Gallery Name: Kyle Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,032 BananaBucks : 435,606 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 230 Times Was Thanked 414 Times in 163 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 14 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... Gingers look good. My favorite compainion plant for potted Musa is succulents, they have a really shollow root base so they don't choke the banana for water/space.

06-14-2010, 09:19 AM	#13 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,001 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... You can get cheap Elephant ears- by buying "Yautia" at any latin or Asian grocery store. Since your boricua you already probably know what Yautia is.... __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

06-14-2010, 10:21 AM	#15 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady 's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,318,556 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I like Lilies and Banana plants together. Here's my SDC pup in my Lily garden... : )

06-14-2010, 11:35 AM	#16 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 221,473 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I did an entire article on this exact topic in one of our Bananas Quarterly issues last year. I'm not sure if you had subscribed or not but it was in the combined issue last year (Volume 1, No. 3-4). You may be able to get it if you contact Jarred (Media Hound).

06-14-2010, 11:53 AM	#17 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,001 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... Noticed any difference when planting "yautia lila" "yautia blanca" and Malanga- all supposed to be Xanthosoma sagittifolium but there have some differences in each plant? __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

06-14-2010, 05:56 PM	#19 (permalink)
mbfirey mbfirey's Photo Gallery Location: Pageland SC- Zone7b/8a line Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Mike Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 340 BananaBucks : 92,001 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 125 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I'm sure there's a difference in flavor, but I wonder if they have differences when planted?>> I've only planted one so far, and I forgot if it was "lila" or white...but It's got 2 leaves now. I've tried to plant malanga a few times but I guess the tubers were old because they rotted on me. __________________ www.nstarleather.com North Star Leather Company Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

06-27-2010, 06:57 AM	#20 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 4,279 BananaBucks : 239,881 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,325 Times Was Thanked 2,130 Times in 972 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 300 Times	Re: Plants that complement bananas... I just put this bed in yesterday. Elephant ears with Zan Morenos. __________________

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