Wow! I've never seen a banana shrub bloom before! Can you post some pics? I understand it smells delicious.

They sell banana blooms here at the local Indian store.

Lynda here you go, they do smell delish! I don't know what's different about the fall but they are usually white like this:

Here's mine.

The blooms do not last long after they open, the few I saw Fri have already dropped. The fragrance is also diminished.

Those are lovely! I'm wondering if they would be ok to grow here. I'm in zone 7b.

gardenfish said:Those are lovely! I'm wondering if they would be ok to grow here. I'm in zone 7b.

I am not sure about this species in particular, but I have seen some magnolias in zone 5b where I used to live, and they also thrive here in zone 9b where I am currently at.

Lynda on SL_gardener's photo above he comments not quite hardy in his 6a gardens, so you might have a good chance at it. I actually traded for mine, not knowing anything about it. I need to prune it next spring.
A person do you think the banana blooms(I am assuming Musa?) are eaten or used medicinally? That's interesting. My mat of Ice Cream banana has only bloomed one time, just had a very warm winter that yr.

Well, I think the reference was to a real banana tree, not the shrub.
I went to Wilson Bros online nursery in Georgia, thinking I has seen this shrub there. Yes, they have it! They say it is a go for this area, but it's for zones 6 through 9, or something similar.
They have a huge selection of Southern plants for sale, probably more azaleas and Camille I've ever seen in one place. They sell mostly one, two and three gallon size plants, and some five gallons. A few plants they offer as a six pack of quart containers. They're not cheap, but they include shipping in the price. I urge all southern gardeners to check them out. Rated highly on davesgarden.

I see them in our Green Pages too. You might want to add an endorsement here also. Wilson Bros Gardens

Yes Lynda, I thought he was talking real bananas also. It would take a lot of the shrub flowers to do anything with.

I'm done ordering! I don't dare look at anything else. Normally I would have been all over the daylily sale that Tiffany and Larry were talking about but I abstained. I'm getting some fruit trees/bushes in and also I will have lilies come in next month. Not even ordering any new daffs. Maybe I'll casually meander over to look at Wilson's plants.

Thanks, Kristi, I think I will do that after I order from them, which will probably be this spring. I want to pick up some good size shrubs to plant between mine and my neighbors hose. I'm considering hardy hibiscus, camellias, bottlebrush, spice, loropetalum and looking at a dwarf chaste tree.
Spring seems to be a better time to plant those kinds of plants here.
I'm also considering some hydrangeas and gardenias for the back that has shade.

There are a LOT of bananas here.

A person I just bet there is in your 9b. All kinds of tropicals that I can't grow and want to. I have been pondering a loquat tree but not ready to take the plunge yet.

Kabby said:A person I just bet there is in your 9b. All kinds of tropicals that I can't grow and want to. I have been pondering a loquat tree but not ready to take the plunge yet.

Hey, there are bananas that can grow in zone 6.

Yes, there is a hardy (real) banana tree that grows here and doesn't have to be dug for the winter or brought inside. I think the name of the variety is Musa. Banana shrubs and banana trees aren't the same plant.

gardenfish said:Yes, there is a hardy (real) banana tree that grows here and doesn't have to be dug for the winter or brought inside. I think the name of the variety is Musa. Banana shrubs and banana trees aren't the same plant.

Musa is a generic term for all bananas, whether hardy or tropical. Which specific variety are you talking about?

Sorry, I'm not sure of the varietal name, I goofed up! A neighbor down the street has one, and they don't dig it. They just cut it done in early spring and it comes back with new foliage. I've never seen any bananas on it though.

That sounds like the kind I have. It never has a chance to bloom, getting knocked down by frost every winter.

Well are we FINALLY gonna get some cold weather? I need it for my winter sowing! It looks like 28deg Sunday night. I've been delaying cutting my banana bunch down, but Sat seems like the day to do it. Not to be confused with banana shrub discussed months ago.

Yep, it's gonna be getting cold in Dixie, probably gonna be some frosty morns. As usual I'll be scurrying around covering pipes and outdoor faucets. The NWS is predicting a high of 81F for New Year's Day and a low that night of 52F, Sunday (next day) is predicted to be a high of 61F and a low that night of 27F. "Que sera, sera..."

I'll be shivering & cussing the cruel & unusual-ness, even if it is perfectly normal and average.