Maureen, My interest in Hybrid Chinas comes especially from a rose that I have in my garden that is classified as a Hybrid China: The Bishop. This rose seems more like a gallica than anything else...except that it is much more lanky and can be trained to climb over an arch. It blooms profusely, smells wonderfully, and is disease resistant. Another rose that is similar to The Bishop in growth is Hippolyte...but, it's classified as a gallica, I believe. I've also got Alice Vena (which is wonderful), Alexandre Laquement (still young), Malton (still young), Velours Episcopal (still young). Lori, thanks for the comment on Coupe de Hebe. Robert I also have

Stan, Sorry for this late answer. The trouble with our region is a long wet winter. For a banana a bit of cold is no problem but the amount of water is the trouble here. Most of the plants are killed by too much water or a fungus because of wet conditions. I moved from the coldest region in Holland to a warmer region. (7b to 8a USDA) But because of gardenweb doesn't recognise a dutch zip-code, I cannot change my profile any more. About your question: I have the "normal" bananas for a colder region: basjoo, sikkimensis, velutina, itinerans, ensete's, Musella Lasiocarpa etc. And some fruiting species: Dwarf Orinoco, Namwah, Manzano, French Horn, FHIA 23 and 25 and a Grand Naine. The last 3 I overwinter inside my house. I lost a FHIA 18, Pitogo ans a Zan Moreno due to a grey mold this winter. The Namwah and Dwarf Orinoco are the strongest here to survive, if you dig them up and store away at ca 5-10 degrees C. Simon

Hey Colin. The problem we have is twofold: soil is generally lacking in sufficient organic matter, and our lack of humidity is a major problem for young bananas. If youre starting with smaller bananas, here is what Ive been successful with: Begin the plants indoors this time of year. Grow them as large as you can before putting them outside. Larger plants have a larger root system to can compensate (well, somewhat) for our lack of humidity. The previous suggestion to use a locally grown plant is also helpful. Plants that come from a higher humidity environment are going to have trouble adapting. I typically lose plants in late June or early July. Compacted clay soils and low humidity overwhelm the plant, and no amount of watering will allow them to re-hydrate. Re-visit your soil amendments, and allow them to decompose for the next few months. Amend again before planting with cactus and palm mix. Two feet may have been insufficient. Try going a foot deeper, and ideally, as deep as your back will allow you to go. =) Meantime, find a plant that you want, hopefully locally grown, and set it outside on humid or mild days, but otherwise in a sunny indoor spot. Water half strength fertilizer twice a month. Come spring, once soil temps are above 60, you can plant. Use a shade for the first month, or until the plant becomes well established. Water as needed, and use the shade cloth on very hot days, and mist the plant as you are able. This will help tremendously, and once established, the plant will do well. Its getting it past that first summer that is the hardest part. Come winter, the plant will defoliate, but will spring back with the warm temps. I still get pretty massive sunburn on mine during the hottest days, and they seem to stop growing above 105. Id recommend protection from the most intense sun. Until sept., give them all the fertilizer they can handle (once established), and make sure the soil drains very, very well. With insufficiently amended soil, the water that they need and high temps breed bacteria and fungus also, so watch out for root rot on your smaller plants. If they dont spring back on humid or overcast days, or at least a little bit at night, then take it back inside in a pot with well draining soil. Hope this helps. Once established in good soil, bananas do really well here. Generally, it takes two years to get fruit, but they pup nicely, and make an awesome addition to the landscape. DD

Just an update.......... they are starting to green up an interesting fact is it has been colder here not warmer .