pmurphy

I am looking for suggestions for "dwarf" varieties of bananas.

I have being working in my various gardens trying to turn them into "exotic" gardens with assorted palms, hibiscus, bamboos etc (anything that looks tropical and out of the ordinary) but in order to make them look the way I want, I know I need some bananas. And this is difficult to do in a northern zone 8 (Vancouver Canada). So I have come up with the idea of getting some dwarf varieties (no more than 6ft in height) and placing them in large pots in the front gardens as my centerpieces.
I think that plants suited for zone 9 will be okay as the pots would be moved into a heated greenhouse for overwintering.
So now I am asking for suggests on what types will fit the size requirements and look exotic (more so than the usual). And finally - the hard one - where can I get access to these plants locally as bringing them into Canada is almost impossible.

Abnshrek

Since your putting them in I'd say Raja puri, Caligold, and D. Namwah for sure. :^)

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Olafhenny

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pmurphy

Thanks,
I too have the basjoo - a nice little "groove" of about 8 or so plants - that I have had for about 4 years now growing in the backyard (ranging in height from just over 1ft to about 7ft). New for this year I have a couple of Musella Lasicocarpa with one producing a few pups that I will try seperating soon (this will be a first for me) but both of these are cold hardy so no issues about leaving in the ground.
I was hoping for something a little more exotic and thus not as cold hardy for these pots but your suggestion also sounds like it would work....the problem being where to get. I do know of a fellow in Montreal that lists Musa Velutina
but he has not had any available but I will keep trying for the new year.
If you get any leads on availabiliy for the Ornata, let me know.

Thanks again,
Pam

Olafhenny

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The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences,
my own and those of others and to learn from them.

pmurphy

Thanks for the info.
The weather has started changing here (first day of Fall) so I am going to attempt to separate one of the lasiocarpa pups today - it is about a third the size of the mother and I do want to try to get this done before it is too late.
Wish me luck...

2woodensticks

i like the red dwarfs...prefer jamacian..nice red contrast..DC do have some nice color..but the red fruit is what i like..

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