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Can tropical plants over-winter in MD? #872011

Asked June 07, 2024, 9:36 AM EDT

I found these palms growing in a yard waste area. They had over-wintered. They were originally planted as part of the entrance garden to welcome visitors. Is it common for these tropical plants to survive a Maryland winter?

Howard County Maryland

Expert Response

These aren't palms, but are banana. While most banana plants cannot survive our winter cold, at least one species can, the aptly-named Hardy Banana (botanical name Musa basjoo, also known as the Japanese Fiber Banana). Although they get to small tree size, they don't have true woody trunks and are more like a giant perennial, dying down completely to the ground each winter. They regrow (sometimes to over 15 feet high) fully by late summer. They do not produce harvestable fruit, since our growing season isn't long enough, though they can start to form small fruits when old enough and taller. Western Maryland is potentially too cold to have this banana overwinter (though with climate change, perhaps not for long), but the rest of Maryland can reliably grow this species in terms of cold exposure. Incidentally, there are a couple cold-hardy palms as well that can overwinter here, though sometimes they are singed or killed by a cold snap, even if the winter on the whole is mild.

Miri
Thank you so much for replying! I learn so much whenever I send you a question.

On Fri, Jun 7, 2024, 10:53 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied June 07, 2024, 12:19 PM EDT

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