Musa sikkimensis real cold hardy

18 years ago

I have cold hardy types:

M. Basjoo, M. sikkimensis, California Gold, Dwarf Brazilian, Dwarf Namwah, Dwarf Orinoco, Gold Finger, Raja Puri, etc.

I left them outside the entire last winter. The lows briefly went down to 23 deg F, we had several frosty nights. Here's the partial results on my first inspoection:

Musa sikkimensis did not suffer any damage on its leaves! Not a single leaf took frost bite.

All the other cold hardy types lost their leaves but have their trunks survive. California Gold and M. Basjoo were the last ones to lose their leaves, followed by Brazilian, Misi Luki, Orinoco, Gold Finger, Dwarf Nawah and Raja Puri, Williams, Manzano, FHIA-23.

The bananas that died back to the ground level are: SDC, Lakatan, Kru, Kofi, Grand Nain, Zebrina, Thousand fingers, Hua Moa, Mauritius.

After a month, I will report which did not resurrect and have died down completely. My listing will be much more complete/

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Comments (11)

weatherguy
18 years ago
Cool Observations! I'm Gonna have to try one of those Sikkimensis...

WeatherGuy
joereal
Original Author
18 years ago
M. sikkimensis should be good as exotic ornamentals, the fruits are not palatable.
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nope I'm going to say that they'll probably be ok because they are well established. I have a friend who told me to plant them one foot deeper than they were in the pot, and since I did that, I never mulch mine anymore. zone 5 Indiana. I've lost like two in the last 3 years. That being said, I have one basjoo I planted over the top of the septic tank where the soil is real shallow and for years I've said I'm going to move it because it only grows like two feet tall every year but it has around 15 pups that come up each year. I didn't plant it deep, at ground level and quit mulching it 3-4 years ago and it's been fine. So stop likeing them and then they do ok every year...lol...
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I'll be curious to see what mine do too. I used the same method, with bags of leaves. We've had -15 without the windchill, -25 with it. :( We haven't had a winter like this in quite a few years. Every now and then I look out at my babies and wonder if I'll see them again. I guess I could string some Christmas lights out there, but the worst appears to be over. It was a balmy -5 this morning. Luckily I have 6 bananas outside and one as a houseplant as insurance. I might need it this year!
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Well........ Not sure about quite a few of those, but I think you'll be fine with the following: Saba Mysore Raja Puri And these are pretty reliable here in zone 7 (and even colder): m. lasiocarpa m. sikkimensis These probably would NOT be good choices: Hua Moa Dwarf Red I'm not sure about the others. Ones that I can recall off the top of my head that wouldn't be suitable in zone 8a would be: Jamaican Red musa beccarii AeAe Cavendish musa zebrina (or Rojo, Sumatrana) Too tired to think right now, but that's a start. And to be sure, none of the fruiting types are really completely reliably hardy in zone 8a without some form of protection, usually in the form of mulch. Species bananas, such as musa sikkimensis, and of course musa basjoo, are hardier on average than the fruiting types.
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chills71
18 years ago
There's a researcher in Ohio who is trying Musa V(something) Pink Velvet. He claims that it survives -6 with minimal protection and it flowers and fruits each year.

The fruit are claimed to be somewhat edible, but filled with buckshot sized seed.

I personally have no experience, just thought it was intersting.

~Chills
Casa_Del_Gatos
18 years ago
That would be M. Velutina. I've not heard that it was that cold-hardy with a zone rating of 9A-11.
hibiscus909
18 years ago
Velutina is grown here in zone7. I believe it comes back with no protection. (I have not grown it yet)

Thanks very much for the cold info, JoeReal.

seahorse
chills71
18 years ago
I spoke to him, via email, and he says that Velutina has survived 0 degrees with little damage, but that may be the extent of its hardiness as this last winter his outdoor one died (-14 F) even with protection.

He says that it is easy enough to winter indoors in case your outdooe one doesn't make it.

~Chills
mrbungalow
18 years ago
Musa sikkimensis does well here in Z8 Norway, but they grow slowly compared to Musa. Basjoo, atleast as a young plant. I believe M. Sikkimensis needs some warmer weather to really take off than m. basjoo.
tropicallvr
18 years ago
I have had the exact oppostite experience with M.basjoo, and M.sikkimensis. My M.sikkimensis seems to put out growth at the coolest times(slows in full heat), and M.basjoo wakes up when it starts to get warmer.
These differences must be from the widespread origins of M.sikkimensis(BTW the M.sikkimensis I am talking about is a tissued cultered one here in the states, probally from Agri-starts originally) Maybe my new seedlings will prefer some heat!
JamesCA
18 years ago
Hi JoeReal,

Where abouts in CA do you live. I'm native to norhtern CA and was curious to know if you have any luck with williams or texas star blooming?
joereal
Original Author
18 years ago
I've got the Williams bloom at perfect time this late spring, so it is going to have mature properly filled banana fruits this October.

Texas star actually bloomed first, but I am beginning to think that what I got is not Texas Star but a lousy ornamental banana from the looks of the fruits.

My California Gold is now starting to open up its bloom, I think it is late, but I hope it would catch up. With all the heat wave we're having, and a record hottest July to boot, the blooms and growth are delayed on the Ca Gold. I hope it will make it to have harvestable fruits.
socalnolympia
4 years ago
seedling from Helen's Hybrid

It's supposed to be a cross of sikkimensis with another edible banana, chini champa

Musa sikkimensis real cold hardy

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Musa sikkimensis real cold hardy

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