Sasa palmata is one of the largest-leaved bamboos of genus Sasa. Its common name is the palm-leaved bamboo, and it is widely grown for its tropical effect, with vibrant green, palm-like leaves that can grow up to 15 inches long and 3-4 inches wide. It is potentially a very invasive runner, so it is best grown with a root barrier or in a container.

It eventually reaches a maximum height of about 7 feet, with a maximum culm diameter of 1/4″.

Hardiness

Sasa palmata is rated hardy to -5°F (zone 6b), but it may survive temperatures up to 10 degrees colder, especially if the ground is well mulched. As long as the root/rhizome system survives, it will send up new growth in the spring, even if the plant is completely top-killed.

Musella lasiocarpa is a great plant for a tropical effect in cooler climate zones. It is not a true banana, but a banana relative, and has a smaller, shrub-like form. It can produce a large, lotus-shaped, waxy yellow flower that will remain in bloom for six months.

The Chinese yellow banana is endemic to the Yunnan province of China, and it grows in mountains up to 2500 meters in altitude. Its flower is known as the Golden Lotus Flower, a sacred flower in local Buddhism.

It will eventually form a large clump, up to 15 feet in diameter and 5 feet high.

Hardiness

The Chinese yellow banana is considered root-hardy to zone 6. Plants resist light frost but die back at 28° F.

Winter Protection

Cut back leaves after soon after light frost damage occurs. Spray the root crown with a fungicide to prevent fungal rot during the winter. Use heavy mulch around the root crown to protect from freezing. Gradually remove the mulch in late winter-early spring as the risk of a hard freeze passes.

Growing Tips

Grow in full sun to partial shade. Musella lasiocarpa prefers even moisture throughout the growing season. Leaves may be shredded or dried out in a windy location; pick a site with some wind protection.

About Nandina Domestica

Nandina domestica, or heavenly bamboo, is completely unrelated to bamboo. Its name comes from its fine, bamboo-like foliage and its cane-like stems. It is an evergreen to deciduous shrub that will grow to 5 feet tall , 3 feet wide, at a moderate rate. Some sources list Nandina domestica as hardy only to zone 7, but it is hardy to zone 6 with some dieback. It will lose its leaves at 10°F, and at -10°F, its stems will die back to the ground. Recovery is quick in the spring.

Nandina domestica ‘Monum’ / Plum Passion® (Heavenly bamboo). The colorful, finely-textured foliage creates a striking contrast with big-leaved background plants like Musella lasiocarpa.

Many named cultivars of heavenly bamboo exist, each with different variations in color. Many nandinas feature tropical-looking leaf color combinations of brilliant reds, bronzes, and greens, as well as bright red color in the fall. Some cultivars recently offered by Monrovia have notably superior foliage color. They include ‘Monum’ (Plum Passion®), ‘Monfar’ (Sienna Sunrise™), and ‘Firepower’.

Nandina domestica may be grown in partial shade, but the foliage colors will be much more intense if it is grown in sun. It prefers a moist, somewhat rich, acidic soil. Once established, it becomes very adaptable and will tolerate a wide range of conditions. Site the plant to protect it from harsh winds.

Camellias are evergreen shrubs or small trees with attractive glossy foliage. They originate from subtropical regions of China, Japan and neighboring countries. They are known for their dramatic blooms during the off-season – autumn, winter, or early spring, depending on the cultivar and climate.

Typically, camellias have been grown only in the southern United States, but more recently, the development of cold-hardy cultivars has extended their potential growing range considerably.

Hardiness

Several camellia cultivars have been developed that are hardy to zone 6. A select few, such as those developed by Dr. William Ackerman at the National Arboretum, are hardy to -15°F, and may be worth trying in zone 5.

Camellia ‘Snow Flurry’

The Hardiest Camellias

• Camellia japonica
  A spring-blooming camellia. Cultivars hardy to zone 6b: “April Series” (‘April Dawn’, ‘April Kiss’, ‘April Blush’, etc.), ‘Betty Sette’, ‘Frost Queen’, ‘Jerry Hill’, ‘Pink Icicle’, ‘Red Aurora’, ‘Red Jade’, ‘Spring’s Promise’, ‘Bernice Boddie’.
• Camellia oleifera
  Tea-oil camellia, hardy to zone 6. Often used to hybridize with camellias with showier flowers.
• Camellia oleifera Hybrids
  Ackerman Hybrids
  Developed by Dr. William Ackerman at the U.S. National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Hardy to zone 6, some selections possibly to zone 5. Named cultivars: ‘Ashton’s Pride’, ‘Frost Prince’, ‘Lushan Snow’, ‘Pink Icicle’, ‘Polar Ice’, ‘Snow Flurry’, “Winter Series” (‘Winter’s Beauty’, ‘Winter’s Charm’, ‘Winter’s Dream’, etc.).
• Camellia Forest Hybrids
  Developed by Camellia Forest, hardy to zone 6. Named cultivars: ‘Mason Farm’, ‘Survivor’, ‘Twilight Glow’.
• Camellia sinensis var. sinensis
  A small-leaf tea camellia, hardy to zone 6. Originally grown from seeds collected in Korea where it was growing in the wild; it had probably escaped from cultivation. This variety is vigorous and grows as a shrub, 6 to 8 ft. tall.

Winter Protection

Site camellias to protect from cold, drying winds. Make sure the plant is heavily mulched around the base; small plants can be completely covered with a loose, non-compacting mulch. Application of an antidessicant spray such as Wilt-Pruf® will reduce moisture loss during the winter.

Growing Tips

Camellias prefer light shade when young. Growing in well-drained, organic soils is essential. Camellias prefer slightly acidic soil, but do not amend the soil to be too acidic or overfertilized.

Musa basjoo is generally considered the most cold-hardy banana.

While it does grow in Japan, the Japanese fiber banana is native to the Ryukyu Archipelago, which lies between Japan and Taiwan. It is also very common in parts of China.

Its large, tropical foliage and fast growth rate make it ideal for a dramatic feature in the tropicalesque garden. It will eventually form a large, deep green clump, up to at least 18 feet tall.

Hardiness

Musa basjoo is somewhat unique in that it will actively grow in cool weather. The banana will continue growing until temperatures reach approximately 40° F. It will resist light frost, but die back at 28° F. It is is considered root-hardy to zone 6, and will survive a zone 5 winter with heavy mulch.

Winter Protection

Cut back leaves after soon after light frost damage occurs. Spray the root crown with a fungicide to prevent fungal rot during the winter. Use heavy mulch around the root crown to protect from freezing. Gradually remove the mulch in late winter-early spring as the risk of a hard freeze passes.

Growing Tips

Grow in full sun to partial shade. Musa basjoo thrives on plenty of fertilizer and water during the growing season. It will do well with a regular application of balanced liquid fertilizer applied weekly during the summer. While it is a heavy feeder, be careful not to burn the plant with too high a concentration of fertilizer. Top-dressing with composted manure is another popular feeding method. Leaves may be shredded or dried out in a windy location; pick a site with some wind protection.

About Sabal Minor

Sabal minor, the dwarf palmetto, is native to the United States, and is considered to be almost as hardy as the needle palm. It grows naturally in the southeastern United States, and its natural habitat extends west to Texas and Oklahoma. Sabal Minor will eventually form a clump about 5-6 feet in height. It grows from a single trunk, which typically grows mostly underground. The presence of a short above-ground trunk may indicate that the plant is actually Sabal ‘Louisiana’, which may be a Sabal minor variety or a closely-related species.

Dwarf palmetto (Sabal minor)
Larry Allain @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database

Hardiness

Sabal minor can be very slow to establish, and this can present some problems with hardiness. For the first few years, it grows a set of juvenile strap leaves, which can be damaged by temperatures below 0°F. Damaged juvenile leaves can be very slow to regrow. It is worth protecting through the first few years, however, because established dwarf palmettos should be hardy throughout zone 6. Like needle palms, they have some tolerance to cold, wet winters. An established underground Sabal minor trunk should be able to withstand brief temperature dips below -10°F and regrow damaged or defoliated leaves. One of the hardiest known dwarf palmetto ecotypes is ‘McCurtain County’, native to southeastern Oklahoma. It has been known to survive temperatures as low as -24°F.

Winter Protection

Mulch heavily around the base, but do not completely cover the leaves. Gradually remove the mulch in spring. Site in a favorable wind-protected exposure, such as the south side of a wall or building. Provide some winter shade if possible.

Growing Tips

Dwarf palmettos prefer full sun to light shade. In colder, marginal climates, full sun is better; in hot climates, light shade is preferred. Sabal minor may grow very slowly during a mild summer. It requires the hot, humid conditions of the southeastern United States to see significant growth in a season. Mulch plants and water regularly until well-established.

About Rhapidophyllum Hystrix

Rhapidophyllum hystrix, the needle palm, is generally considered to be the most cold-hardy palm. It is a slow-growing palm with a shrub-like form, and usually does not form a large trunk. It is indigenous to the coastal southeastern United States, from Mississippi to South Carolina.

Hardiness

Conservatively, the needle palm is hardy to zone 6. It has been known to withstand temperatures as low as -20°F, but a more realistic hardiness limit is 0°F to -10°F. It is prone to foliage damage and browning during cold winter conditions, especially when combined with wind. Cold-hardiness will increase in the needle palm as it become larger and well-established.

Winter Protection

Mulch heavily. Gradually remove the mulch in spring. Site in a favorable wind-protected exposure, such as the south side of a wall or building. Needle palms are prone to fungal and bacterial crown rot under wet winter conditions. Spraying the foliage and crowns several times during the winter with a fungicide/bactericide spray will help prevent crown rot.

Growing Tips

Needle palms prefer full sun to light shade. In colder, marginal climates, full sun is better; in hot climates, light shade is preferred. Mulch plants and water regularly until well-established.

Bananas can add an instant tropical look to any landscape. They are fast-growing, with huge, tropical-looking leaves. Although the cold-hardy temperate varieties listed below rarely fruit in colder climates, they are valuable for their dramatic foliage.

Musa basjoo has long been considered the hardiest banana. It should be hardy to zone 6, and it has been overwintered in zone 5 with a heavy mulch.

Musella lasiocarpa and Musa sikkimensis have also been recognized as very hardy, although preliminary trials suggest that they are slightly less hardy than Musa basjoo.

Here are some popular hardy bananas to try growing in your garden:

• Musa basjoo (Japanese fiber banana)
• Musella lasiocarpa (Chinese yellow banana)
• Musa sikkimensis (Sikkim banana)

In general, clump-forming palms, those with a shrub-like form, are hardier than arborescent, or trunked palms.

Shrub-Like Palms

• Rhapidophyllum Hystrix (Needle Palm) : Zone 6
• Sabal minor (Dwarf Palmetto) : Zone 6
• Serenoa Repens (Saw Palmetto) : Zone 7b

Arborescent Palms

• Trachycarpus Fortunei (Chinese Windmill Palm) : Zone 7
• Trachycarpus Takil (Kumaon Palm) : Zone 7
• Trachycarpus Wagnerianus (Miniature Chusan Palm) : Zone 7
• Sabal Palmetto (Cabbage Palm) : Zone 7b
• Butia Capitata (Jelly Palm) : Zone 8

The hardiness ratings listed above are estimates, and assume minimal winter protection. For some palms, hardiness may increase as they become more well-established.

Certain species of bamboo can survive temperatures as low as -20°F. Below is a list of cold-hardy bamboos compiled by members of the American Bamboo Society. Although the plants will most likely not be killed by the temperatures listed below, they will often die back and regrow from the ground at these extreme minimums. If they experience these temperatures on an annual basis, they may not reach their full growth potential.

Zone 6b Bamboos (-5°F):

• Indocalamus sp. ‘solidus’
• Indocalamus tessellatus
• Phyllostachys mannii
• Phyllostachys nigra ‘Hale’ (Black bamboo)
• Phyllostachys purpurata ‘straight stem’
• Phyllostachys rubromarginata
• Phyllostachys viridis
• Phyllostachys viridis ‘Houzeau’
• Phyllostachys vivax (Running giant bamboo)
• Sasa palmata (Palm-leaved bamboo)
• Sasa senanensis
• Semiarundinaria fastuosa
• Semiarundinaria fastuosa viridis
• Shibataea kumasaca albostriata
• Shibataea lancifolia

Zone 6a Bamboos (-10°F):

• Arundinaria gigantea (Giant cane)
• Arundinaria gigantea subsp. tecta (Switch cane)
• Fargesia dracocephala (Dragon’s head bamboo)
• Phyllostachys atrovaginata
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata (Yellow groove bamboo)
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata alata
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata aureocaulis
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata ‘Harbin’
• Phyllostachys aureosulcata spectabilis
• Phyllostachys bissetii
• Phyllostachys propinqua
• Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens
• Pleioblastus fortunei
• Sasamorpha borealis
• Shibataea chinensis
• Shibataea kumasaca

Zone 5 Bamboos (-20°F):

• Fargesia murieliae (Umbrella bamboo)
• Fargesia nitida (Fountain bamboo)
• Phyllostachys nuda