Andre

Hello, just registered to the forum, and I am really interested in the red banana plants. I'm in USDA zone 10b but I'm pretty sure the temperature dips into the 30's, so I need to know which of these are hardier. I would rather have leafs in the winter.
Also, I am confused about both specimens, the red abyssinian is listed in some sites as the Ensete ventricosum, and others as Ensete maurelii. So which is it, and is it a hybrid?
As for the siam ruby, I understand its a subspecies of the Musa acuminata? Did it evolve in the wild as a red banana or was it "domesticated into red"?

sunfish

palmtree

Red Abynssinan bananas are botanically called Ensete ventricosum "Maurelli". Maurelli is the cultivator name. Normal Ensete Ventricosum bananas have green leaves only.
No matter how cold tolerant a banana is, most of them have damaged leaves at about the same temperature. Some of the thicker leafed varieties can handle more frost than the thin ones. Ironically in my experience Musa Basjoos get frost damaged faster than my tropical banana plants even though its a hardy banana that comes up every spring from the ground around here.
I think for cold tolerance the Ensete will be a better choice. They are more vigorous than Siam Ruby bananas. But the Ensete will only live maybe 3-4 years before they flower and die. And they do not pup (well they can but the process is kind of complicated and not really worth it IMO). Siam Rubies are great bananas and they are puppers so you will not have to replace them. They will get damaged by frost (probably faster than Ensete) and they dont get to be as massive as Ensetes, but they are really nice short banana plants that can get pretty nice sized with age.

Ensetes are hardier than Siam Rubys but they both will survive in a zone 10b (and only temperatures in the low 30s or colder will make the leaves look really ugly).

Good luck! Maybe you sould try both Ensete's and Siam Rubys and see which one is your favorite!

__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b

sunfish

Ensete ventricosum 'Atropurpureum'
Ensete ventricosum 'Green Stripe'
Red false banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', syn. Musa maurelii)
Ensete ventricosum 'Montbeliardii'
Ensete ventricosum 'Tandarra Red' (syn. Musa 'Tandarra Red')
Ensete ventricosum 'Red Stripe' (syn. Musa 'Red Stripe')
Ensete ventricosum 'Rubra' (syn. Musa ensete 'Rubra')

caliboy1994

Red Abyssinian does great here in 10a.

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Andre

Thanks for the replies, that does clear it up for the abyssinian.

well that is what I'm looking for, the giant bananas. You said they the leaves don't get ugly until the low 30's, so this means they will not be damaged by a night that is 33º?
I already have siam ruby and will end up doing what you suggested anyway, thanks!

caliboy1994

I think Red Abyssinian should be fine as long as there is no frost. Siam Ruby I know is less cold hardy, so you might get some damage.

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palmtree

33F is an iffy temperature for Ensetes. If the duration is short they will have little to no damage and even if the duration is longer they still shouldnt be mushy like most bananas get. My basjoo's turn to mush after a frost but Enestes and other thick leaf bananas usually can handle a little lower.

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Location: New York City, zone 7b

Andre

talkinga bout leaf damage, my siam ruby has been getting leaf damage. The last leaf is dying out, but a brand new leaf that was coming out yellow, is getting brown edges, and I really doubt its the weather, it has been in the higher 50s recently.

caliboy1994

What are the night temperatures like?

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Andre

It's in the higher 50s and 60s during the night and around the 70s during the day. I'm afraid it might be disease.
I've been trimming the browning leafs.

caliboy1994

It could be stress related. Where are you located? That could rule out some diseases.

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Andre

I am in orange county, souther California.
The browning is not getting better, but I think it might simply the sun shock.


And here are the freshly potted red Abyssinians

caliboy1994

It could be a combination of both the sun and low humidity. I hear that Siam Ruby needs high humidity to thrive.

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palmtree

The ensetes look great! I think the siam ruby is definitely seeing some sun damage. The lack of humidity and sun combined can definitely make a banana plant look like that. They may need some more partial shade in Cali because of the dry air. I've seen them in full sun here and even in the southeast and Im guessing the reason for that its the high humidity on the east coast.
Good luck!

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Location: New York City, zone 7b

HoaNui

I transplanted my Siam Ruby and it promptly died...

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Andre

0_o maybe you damaged the roots? Or not enough water? I lik the caique btw, those things are clowns

natej740

The ensetes look great...just a heads up, When they get bigger the wind will blow them over in pots. So be careful on windy days.

Andre

thanks for the heads up, I have a wind-sheltered spot for both.

caliboy1994

All of my bananas seem to love full sun, and I live inland on top of that, where the temperature varies more widely. They just need to be acclimated first.

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~ Masanobu Fukuoka

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