Hi,
I have recently purchased a Banana tree (Musa Basjoo) from a local nursery. When I first picked up the pot I though I was holding a Canna plant but realized after that it was a Musa Basjoo Banana tree. I read the label which said that it was a perennial zone 5 -7, which took me by surprise since I was unaware that you can grow a Banana tree in Toronto.

I have planted the 2 gal pot a few weeks ago and the Musa has really taken off. It looks healthy and has doubled it's size since I purchased it. I'm looking for advice as to how to care for this species of Musa plant and how to winterize the plant. I live in Toronto which is categorized as a zone 5.

Any information would be greatly appreciated. Also, I am now curious as to what other exotic plants can be grown in Toronto? I have recently gone back to the same nursery to purchase another plant but they do not have any more. The hunt continues......

It's actually hardy to -3 degrees, (I believe), if properly mulched & is hardy to zone 3. In the Fall, cut it back to about a foot, build a cage of some sort around it & mulch with leaves. In the Spring, it should begin to grow from the mulched section. This is what I've been told= this is my first year for mine, also. It's in my garden & doing very well.
The bananas are inedible (Oh well). Feed with dried blood on a fairly regular basis. They need water but can't stand sitting in water. They're not a bog plant. Good luck

Also, certain bamboos will grow where the temperatures don't drop below -29F. There are different types of bamboo- some are running types & they'll spread uncontrollably unless a 30" barrier is erected around them entirely; others are clumping & don't spread far & can be put right next to a house.
Do a google search on bamboos, clumping bamboos, running bamboos, cold-hardy bamboos, & mountain bamboos. You'll get a good education.
I have dealt with Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery & have had excellent dealings with them. Good luck!

Thanks you for the information on the Banana Tree. So far my tree is sprouting very fast. the Musa is opening a new leaf every 3 -4 days. I will probalby get myself another one, but I may have to wait until next year. The nursery where I bought the Musa is all out and I'm not sure if they only carry them early in the season. By the way, what do you feed your Musa with? blood ??
Where is Tradewinds Bamboo Nursery located? what species of bamboo do you have? Do you have any info on Palm trees?

Thanks a bunch

I have nothing on palm trees.

www.tradewindsbamboo.nursery may be their website (I'm not sure at this point- try it & see if it works. They are in Oregon or the State of Washington & their prices include shipping (although I don't know if if the same holds true in Toronto). Get on the website & email Gib Cooper (owner, very knowledgeable & very very helpful & he'll notify you as to approximate shipping dates). I have 2 clumping bamboos: "fargesia Rufa" & "fargesia Robusta". Rufa will get to approx 8, 10 ft (with 1/2" canes) when established & Robusta will have 3/4-1" canes & get to approx 16' high. It'll take 3 or 4 years till they get established: Rufa is cold hardy to about -5F & Robusta is hardy to (I think, but I don't feel like looking it up), -15F.

I feed my bananas with dried blood. Your basjoo may have pups that sprout up beside the main plant. You can sever them with a shovel & grow new plants.

Thanks for the tip and I'm happy to say that I'm the proud owner of 6 new pups that have sprouted around my Banana tree.

Quick question where do you get the dried blood from to feed your plant?

Congratulations on your new pups!. Mine only has 3.

Dried blood can be gotten at garden centers (I don't know about standard, run- of- the- mill centers like Lowes, Home Depot, etc, but you can usually get these things at specialty garden centers). In my area, there are a number of garden centers run by the Amish & Mennonites & they carry things not handled by the 'Big Boys'. Check your major places first, then if you're unsuccessful there, seek out the smaller, specialty places.

Did you check into the bamboo? Both my plants seem to be doing well & I'll mulch them well for winter. In the meantime, I give them a drink of water every day because it's been very, very dry here.

Best of luck. Russ

Yes, I have thanks. I was looking at the Nude Sheath Bambo which is for a zone 5. I'm going to check local nursies first before I order from the states.

Thanks again for all you help.

Vanca

If it is fargesia denudata, it is a clumper & won't cause any problems. Good luck. Russ

I hope you don't mind if I jump in here but I'm wondering where GioGio purchsed the Basjoo? I also live around Toronto and have had Basjoos since May 2004. Started with one 3.5" pot I bought a at Humber nurseries and now have around ten. All from the same plant. Some are now over 10 ft tall. Also, interested in bamboo as well. I might just try a couple next year.

Regards

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Regards

Hi Phil,

I purchased my Basjoo at Islington Nurseries in Etobicoke this past May. How did you prepare them for the winter? Did some of the stalk die back this Spring? or did they fare well through the winter? This is going to be my first season for winterizing my Musa Basjoo. Your input would be appreciated. Do you have pictures of all your Musa's.

I have seen an add for Bamboo's at Sheridan Nurseries but I'm not sure if they are still carrying them.

Have you seen any Needle palms around? I would like to expand to Bamboo's as well as hardy Palms.

Ciao!

Hi GioGio & Phil
I too live in Toronto (beaches area).
This spring I purchased 2 musa plants from area nurseries
A musa basjoo from a Canadian Tire garden center for $15. It was roughly 16 inches when i bought it (early June), and now stands about 7 feet ! I am so impressed by the amount of growth this plant has put on in less than four months.
The other musa I have is about 3 feet high and was purchased at Humber Nurseries http://www.gardencentre.com/catalogue/catalogue.htm i believe it is a "dwarf cavendish" but could be wrong. It was also $15 and now has 3 pups and a trunk about 6-8 inches in diameter!
They are so beautiful i hate for this summer to end.
My brother lives on Vancouver Island and has about a dozen musa in his yard, some 20 feet in height. He wraps them with insulation and burlap and checks on them over the winter. He has suggested to me that I do the same. I'll likely do this sometime in October. Then, when the leaves freeze and die i'll cut them back and mulch the trunk with as many leaves i can get my hands on.
I'm going to cut the pups off soon and attempt to grow new parent plants. Then leave both bananas in the ground over the winter.
Best of luck with yours, hopefully we'll have a mild winter.
If anyone would care to swap pics of our musa plants
cowboy.bones@gmail.com
I too want to grow hardy bamboos
Humber Nursery has a good amount to choose from, however they are pricey ($90 - $130)
I've found some at a local store and am debating whether to buy it now and chance it surviving the winter.
Another plant i am growing this year for the first time is miscanthus floridulus "giganteum"
example: http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/Perenls/miscanth.htm
It now stands about 10 feet or more with the plumes just beginning to emerge.
i highly recommend this grass for a tropical feel. I've trimmed off some of the lower leaves and the stalks are now more visible and bamboo looking.
Hardy palms or cycads would be fantastic!

TropicalEye: neat silver grass!.

Btw, if the one banana plant you have is dwarf cavendish, I don't think it is winter hardy & needs to be brought inside during the Winter. Basjoo, on the other hand, is one of the few that are winter hardy, but not dwarf cavendish.

As far as bamboos, I paid $65.00 for BOTH my bamboos (f. rufa & f. robusta) delivered, from Tradewinds, but I also got the smallest size, too.

Sorry for calling you Phil on my last note.

TropicalEye/Whinwine

did you guys receive my messages. for some reason I't not posted here unless I repied to you directly.