When I started gardening with bananas several years back, I paid attention to the declared hardiness zone, only, and all bananas I started growing are assumed to be growing in zone 7 and/or zone 8. The winters I experienced so far were all warmer than average. My lowest temperature for the winter of 2006/2007 was 16F. The year before, the lowest temperature was around 20F and for the winter of 2004/2005 the lowest temperature was also in the mid-to-high teens. Thus, the last few years I was able to enjoy zone 8b winters. Nevertheless, I experienced problems with some of the Musa species which I will explain more in detail below. Here in Atlanta, despite relatively mild winter temperatures, we have to deal with wet winters and our soils don’t drain well due to the infamous Georgia red clay. Therefore, my assessed hardiness is not only in regards to temperature but also regarding the bananas’ ability to cope with moisture during the winter months.

Musa basjoo and Musella lasiocarpa

I will start with my best performers. Musa basjoo (Japanese Fiber banana) and Musella lasiocarpa (Chinese Yellow Banana) are simply “rock-solid” for me here in Atlanta. They even grow in sub-optimal soil (Rich on clay, bad drainage). Both species were the first bananas that I planted 4 years ago. The Japanese Fiber banana was planted on the north-facing side of my town-home, while the Chinese Yellow Banana was planted behind my porch on the southern side of the home. Both bananas don’t seem to get too much affected by neither the winter temperature nor the winter moisture. The last couple of winter’s low temperatures were always around the high teens. I provided minimal winter protection such as mulching. Even the stems survived the last 2 winters. The biggest surprise this year (2007) I had with my Musella lasiocarpa. Last fall I had trimmed the main stems so that they don’t look too unsightly (50cm-100cm/2-3ft of the stem were remaining). This spring to my astonishment instead of new leaves emerging from the main stems, a blossom formed on the biggest stem in April. Since April it is now flowering for several months (July 2007). A few weeks ago a second flower formed on the side of another of the old stems. Musa basjoo flowered last fall for the first time, which was very nice to see. To me both Musa basjoo and Musella lasiocarpa are hands-down the most hardy and best well-suited bananas for our climate.

Musa sikkimensis

Musa sikkimensis is almost as solid as Musa basjoo and Musella lasiocarpa in my opinion. But it starts to grow a tiny bit later in the spring than Musa basjoo. Also, their stems are slightly less hardy over the winter than Musa Basjoo or Musella lasiocarpa. Nevertheless that difference is really just marginal and even if the stem dies to the ground the plant will re-sprout quickly. I started growing Musa sikkimensis 3 years ago. They arrived in 4 tiny pots but grew very quickly to 2m (6-7ft) the first year. And they survived easily the following winters in the ground.

Musa itinerans (?)

I got this banana from eBay 3 years ago and it was sold to me as Musa itinerans. It grows much more slender and higher than any of my other bananas. It is covered with a white waxy substance. However, I came across an article that states that “leaf-sheaths and petioles [are] devoid of wax.” On the other side it fits most pictures I have seen on the internet. Nevertheless, if this is in fact not Musa itinerans, what it could be. Whatever it is, the stem of my ‘Musa itinerans’ seems to be quite moisture sensitive. Over the last couple of winters I was never able to “rescue” the stem over the winters. New growth always emerged from the root system so far. It always came back reliably, though. I provided only sight winter protection by mulching the plant.

Musa velutina and Musa ‘Raja Puri’

My experience with Musa velutina and Musa ‘Raja Puri’ is rather disappointing so far. Both did not survive the (mild) winters here. When I planted them initially on the south-facing side of my home, I tried to provide a fair degree of drainage by planting them in a raised bed and amending the soil with sand and pine bark nuggets. During the winter months I winter-protected the 2 bananas by covering them with leaf-litter. This apparently was not sufficient. It seems that the root system of those two bananas is quite sensitive to the cold winter-moisture. In fact the root system was largely rotted away. This year I am attempting to grow them by providing substantially improved drainage. Many other people seem to grow Musa velutina successfully in the South-east, though.

Musa ‘Orinoco’

Musa ‘Orinoco’ has also been dicey for me up to now. I started growing Musa ‘Orinoco’ 3 years ago and it ‘survived’ very close to the south-facing wall of my home. Nevertheless, the first winter it just barely made it. In the spring I thought it was dead but after digging it up, I noticed that there was still some life in the plant and it bounced back over the summer. For me Musa ‘Orinoco’ starts to grow very late in spring. This year (2007) growth only started in June. In my opinion Musa ‘Orinoco’ is quite sensitive to winter moisture (Stem and root system). Excellent drainage for the plant is very important.