Frost fringes banana palm at David Hunter's in Surrey

In recent years, home gardeners on the south coast of BC have ventured into adding plants classed as semi-tropical to our gardens. First came the palm craze.

Now Lower Mainland gardeners have discovered that hardy bananas can be grown in our climate zone too. But they do need winter protection.

This banana palm is beginning to show its seasonal objections to the cooler weather. Notice the brown-edged and tattered foliage on the right.

In his recent article about "protective custody" in the winter garden, Steve Whysall, garden columnist at the Vancouver Sun, advises banana growers how to care for these large but tender shrubs.