Go Bananas for Bananas
Add “tropicalisimo” to your garden and maybe even get some bananas!
Bananas are one of the most widely enjoyed fruits. They’re a favourite among kids and adults alike. Whether you’re making banana bread, a banana split, or just having a snack, they’re a simple, tasty, and healthy food that everyone loves.
The Beauty of the Banana Plant
The fruit we know and love comes from beautiful and dramatic, tropical plants. They have vertical, suckering trunks (which are actually pseudostems) and large paddle-like leaves that are fantastic for adding tropical drama to the garden and containers.
When the plant is ready to bloom, a large inflorescence grows from the top of the stem, unfolding into rows of small, tubular, often green flowers, typically surrounded by vibrant bracts often in shades of green, burgundy or pink. These flowers will eventually turn into the bananas we know and love.
The Many Varieties of Bananas
There are many different types of bananas grown around the world, not just the ones we find in the supermarket. They come in various shapes, sizes, and flavours. Some may have seeds, and others are cold-tolerant, making them hardy enough to grow in some Canadian climates. Some species don’t have edible fruit but are grown for their ornamental qualities including the related genus Ensete which also offers dramatic subtropical flare. Some bananas grow quite large, while others are medium-sized or even dwarf and make good houseplants. No matter your preference, there’s a banana for everyone.
Growing Bananas in Canada
The hardy, cold-tolerant types can be grown outdoors in warm microclimates with some winter protection in coastal BC and beyond. The Japanese fibre banana, Musa basjoo, is reportedly ground hardy in zone 5 as is M. sikkimensis ‘Ever Red’! In other regions or for the non-hardy varieties, bananas can be brought indoors during the winter and treated as houseplants. The trunks can also be unceremoniously divested of their leaves, dug out of the ground with a small root ball, and stored in a dark, cool basement or slightly heated shed that remains above about 5 degrees Celsius.
Explore Our Banana Varieties
Ensete glaucum – Snow Banana
Ensete glaucum is the rare snow banana and a Musa relative with large, paddle-shaped leaves that is hardy to Zone 7b with protection.
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurellii’ – Abyssinian Banana
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurellii’ has 6-8 foot long paddle-like green leaves infused with rich burgundy red.
Musa ‘Chini Champa’ – Bhutan Banana
Musa ‘Chini Champa’ is an edible and ornamental, cold-tolerant banana with red flowers and small delicious fruit.
Musa ‘Hazaray’ – Banana
Musa ‘Hazaray’ is a popular banana known for its large-sized fruit, mildly sweet flavour and fragrance, and heavy production.
Musa ‘Jazhi’ – Banana
Musa ‘Jazhi’ produces large fruit with a mild sweetness and a touch of refreshing sour with good fragrance.
Musa ‘Malbhog’ – Banana
Musa ‘Malbhog’ is an edible and ornamental, somewhat frost-tolerant banana tree with tasty, fragrant fruit.
Musa ‘Siam Ruby’ – Hardy Banana
Musa ‘Siam Ruby’ is a dramatic and hardy banana with large green and burgundy striped foliage. Hardy to zone 8.
Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ – Banana
Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ is a fruit-bearing banana with red cone-shaped flowers and broad foliage. Highly ornamental.
Musa acuminata ‘Truly Tiny’ – Banana
Musa acuminata ‘Truly Tiny’ is a miniature fruit-bearing banana tree with red cone-shaped flowers and broad foliage. Highly ornamental.
Musa acuminata ‘Ice Cream’/’Blue Java’ – Ice Cream Banana
Musa acuminata ‘Ice Cream’/’Blue Java’ is a fruit bearing banana tree producing bananas that melt in your mouth like ice cream!
Musa balbisiana – Plantain Banana
Musa balbisiana is a tender and edible, ornamental plantain banana with red bracts and yellow-skinned seedy fruit.
Musa basjoo – Hardy Japanese Fibre Banana
Musa basjoo, the hardy Japanese fibre banana, adds subtropical flare and drama in spades! Reportedly ground hardy to zone 5.
Musa laterita – Bronze Banana
Musa laterita is a zone 8 hardy dwarf banana notable for its upright growth habit and bold red flowering bracts.
Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ – Hardy Banana
Musa sikkimensis ‘Bengal Tiger’ is a dramatic hardy banana with great burgundy stripes and a burgundy flush below. Hardy to zone 8.
Musa sikkimensis ‘Ever Red’ – Hardy Banana
Musa sikkimensis ‘Ever Red’ is a dramatic and cold hardy red striped banana hardy to zone 5!
Musa thomsonii – Bhutan Banana
Musa thomsonii is an edible and ornamental banana tree that is cold-tolerant. It has sweet yellow seedy fruit.
Musa velutina – Pink Velvet Banana
Musa velutina is a unique banana variety with hot pink, fuzzy flowers, and pink bananas. Fruit is edible and contains seeds.
Musa x paradisiaca – Banana
Musa x paradisiaca is a tender, edible banana plant with yellow flowers, purple bracts, and large paddle-shaped leaves.
Discover one of Canada’s Most Diverse Banana Collections
At Phoenix Perennials, we carry a wide selection of different banana species, cultivars, and their relatives. Come to the nursery or shop online to explore all the options for your garden and patio.
Give Your Garden the Phoenix Perennials Touch:
At Phoenix Perennials we offer over 5000 different plants every year for in-person shopping at our garden centre and plant nursery in Richmond, British Columbia, part of Greater Vancouver. Additionally, we offer more than 3000 different plants each year for mail-order shipping across Canada. Stay connected with our diverse offerings and all things Phoenix Perennials by signing up for our E-Newsletter and Alerts and engaging with us on social media. Happy gardening!
