Favorite hardy banana variety

I was wondering what people's favourite variety of banana plant is and what that variety is like in winter?

 

Musa sikkimensis - significant large and, to my eye, well proportioned paddle shaped leaves.

Both Ensete montbeliardii & E. murelli. They need overwintering frost free, and of the two E. murelli will be easier as, although they both grow at about the same rate, E. murelli grows wider and E. montbeliardii tall, and as such "tall" is a nightmare in the Spring when it kicks off into growth but it is not yet warm enough to put them outside - unless your conservatory has a very high roof!

I dislike M. basjoo. Leaves too narrow, and just makes a "so-so" looking thicket, to my eye. The most hardy though.

M. Mekong Giant looked to be a possible solution - supposedly hardy, and better shape. Mine has grown very slowly, so too early to say.

I'd like a Musa aeae ... pipe-dream though

Musa sikkimensis looks like a chickenwire frame covering a straw tower.

M. basjoo either looks the same (if you are trying to protect the pseudostem in order to get more "height" next year, or it looks like dead stalks (until you cut them down) if you are doing nothing for protection, and wanting it to just re-shoot from the ground. Ditto M. Mekong Giant.

The Ensetes will have been lifted and either carefully dried and being stored dry, all leaves cut off, like a log, or will be in a pot and you will be biting your nails whether they are growing enough not to rot at their feet.

Or your next-year's Ensetes will be at the garden centre, and last year's on the compost heap!

Musa Aeae - good luck with that one, if you are doing a good job it will be in your Kew Garden's scale greenhouse and looking exactly the same as it does in the Summer

 

Thanks

Thanks for your suggestions they are very much appreciated.

 

Kristen - very nice to see an objective appraisal from knowledge.

My only experience so far is Ensete 'Murelii', which I love - especially its colour.

Maurelii doesn't pup - but last autumn I cut one into 4 quarters. It now has lots of growing points and potential new plants.