I live south of Calgary, Alberta and am in about a zone 3b. The area in which I will be planting is right next to the house and is a somewhat protected, south-facing area. This is sure to be a microclimate and plants that are growing there now are always some of the first to bloom in the town. This is where I would like to put in some hardy tropicals. I know that it is likely due to the climatic extremes of this area that it will be difficult but please give me some suggestions. The area is behind an electric fireplace hot air vent (not too hot but regulates the area even in winter). The town I live in recieves some of the most clear sky days and is the home of the first fully solar powered community in North America because of the solar energy coming into the town. If there is anywhere in Alberta where this may work I think that I may be in luck. I am interested in Musa Basjoo, but am not sure about that, and was reccomended Phyllostachys Nuda bamboo as it is already proven to grow reliably in this area so let me know your input on these ideas and please let me know if you can think of any other possible growers. Thanks a ton. Josh
what about using giant plants to give a sort of jungle theme type of garden........im thinking Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Ligularia, Rogersia, Osmunda regalis.
banana plants in zone 3? probably not going to happen anytime soon. at least not as a perennial. try here for discussion on tropical and palm plants, there may be some things that might work in containers that could be brought in for winter? http://www.cloudforest.com/northwest/
Thanks for the replies. I am looking into both of them as options. I figured that the banana would be a longshot. What about the climate is it that makes a banana very unlikely to grow out here. Just wondering because I am successfully growing some indoors right now so I doubt that it is humidity (but I could very well be wrong as I am very new to this). The area I live in didn't receve very many days of very cold temps (below -30C through night). Thanks again for the replies and please don't think that I am questioning your knowledge because I really don't know. Josh
Josh--a gal near Ottawa has kept a musa basjoo going for several years outside. This has to be at the absolute edge of it's possible hardiness range (in a very good microclimate by the house, mulched heavily, etc.). Many of the hardier tropicals are from cool, high altitude areas where they don't get the super hot summers, so your Alberta climate may be both too cold in winter and too scorching in summer. Easier to water more in summer I suppose, esp. if you are automated. Your soil must freeze solid quite a ways down in winter tho, not good for most of the hardier exotics we try to get by with. Huge amounts of mulch would be a start.
Yes Alberta is really at the extremes on both sides. The winter can be very cold (although it hasn't been too bad over the past few years for any extended period of time) and the summers can be very hot. I am thinking of trying to keep it outside in the spring/ summer and then cutting it back after a frost and then bringing it inside to a cooler area of the house and then letting it regrow again for the next spring/ summer. Let me know what you think. Josh
