Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Bananas and cousins coming in for winter., 1 by bwilliams

bwilliams wrote:
Well I see that the new Banana is already getting you all interested. I have tested it out last year were it survived with easily. Last year was not that cold so I am not yet sure how much cold it can take. After looking at its rhizomes that deep in the ground I would think it is as hardy or hardier than basjoo and could take a lot of cold temps with its rhizomes surviving easily well below the frost line. I unfortunatly have just a few and probably will not be offering it till next spring. It is however getting TCed. As for Colocasia Pink China its the toughest tropical I have seen it should be protected the first year for sure specially if it did not do well. But once it gets going I now find it all over the place and it is on the verge of being a weed, I love it. For all that don't know I am in Louisville KY zone6 we get cold here and I think we live in one of the harshest places on earth to grow plants. We can get highs during the summer up to 115f and lows down to -20f this is not common our average low is -10 which is why I am a supporter for global warming LOL.

As for when to visit! It all depends on what you really want to see. In the spring it is a great time to get stuff sense you have all summer to grow it out. It is also a great time to see the odd aroids like Amorphophallus blooming. Late spring to summer is great for seeing the new canna hybrids. The end of the year well here is a pic of one of the walk ways at the end of the season.