57496 MUSA BASJOO MUS HH CGH PRICE: $ 15.00 Prefering cooler climes, this "Northern Novelty Banana" from the Ryuku Islands sends up large pale green draping tropical foliage from rootstocks needing winter protection (with mulch this is quite winter hardy in our Zone 6 gardens); odd inflorescenceorescence; white pulp fruit insipid; Japanese use 10' plant for fiber. In cooler climates such as ours the head of foliage is more compact and decorative than photos of clumps grown further south where leaves are longer and thus usually torn & shredded. Note the photo in the accompanying images taken just after the first hard freeze--still a dramatic creature, of considerable bulk after its third season! Soon after the next frost, we suggest you cut the succulent trunks off even with groundlevel and mulch with a very coarse material which will not soak up and hold a lot of moisture over the giant roots below.

57498 MUSA [MUSAELLA] LASIOCARPUS MUS HH CGH PRICE: $ 18.00 The extremely rare "Chinese Yellow Banana" pictured with snow on its gray green tropical leaves where native (but the root clump will not survive sub-terranian frost in our experience); small statured (good in pots to display the very distinctive swollen leaf bases); striking artichoke shaped inflorescenceorescence of butter yellow flowers on a separate spike arising from the ground level if this is given chill (but do not freeze the roots) winter cycles. Yunnan native of considerable architectural beauty; very easy to grow as a container subject as long as kept somewhat dry during its winter rest (best to remove dried foliage at this point), then resuming watering and fertilizing once sunlight is strong once more.

40650 MUSA [ENSETE] MAURELII MUS TGH CGH PRICE: $ 28.00 "Abyssinian Black Banana" While having the thick heavy substance of M. ventricosa, the blackish red leaves flaunt mahogany midribs and margins; purple-carmine underleaf is revealed as leaf unfurls; red-bracted inflorescenceorescence. This is the astounding giant we keep at the patio-pond area here every summer. Come fall the foliage is removed and the tub is carted off into the unheated (but never freezing) porch for the winter where it always unfurls several dramatic bronze leaves for tropical drama while the snow falls outside. If you watch PBS's series on Africa, note stands of this banana around the Eritrean villages where the natives use every part of this plant in their economy. In our experience, this never offsets--the most ordered ornamental form currently as its photo seems to (quite deservedly) crop up in magazines everywhere. Certainly the most easily grown of all the tribe as a container plant--but be sure not to pot in a deep container as the roots grow more outward than directly down.

66863 MUSA SIAM RUBY MUS TGH CGH PRICE: $35.00  PRICE: $15.00 Temporarily marked down for Spring Sales 2010. We sold out of the larger plants, so these are small and not so colorful, but they will certainly grow for you and get more colorful as they get bigger. We have been working on this wonderful and colorful new Banana with some of the best color around. We all thank Tony Avent for his struggle to get this variable beauty into USA horticulture.

54575 MUSA ZEBRINA ROJO MUS TGH HP PRICE: $ 15.00 "Red Blood Banana" Very ornamental "Sumnatrana" specimen with gorgeous reddish maroon underleaf accented with dark red trunks. Remarkable urn plan for your deck or for your estate as the long exotic leaves develop even more pronounced reddish chocolate toned splashes on them in full sunlight. Just cut back trunk to one foot and bring the tub into your basement for the winter if you don't have a greenhouse in the north--it will resprout come spring! Remains the most rewarding for those who have limited space but still want the exotic tone given by an ornamental red splashed banana to any group of tropical plants.