Musa sikkimensis 'Bengal Tiger', Bengal Tiger Banana

Up to 14 feet tall, clumping, and slowly spreading, 'Bengal Tiger' comes from the Northeastern Himalaya—Sikkim and surrounding regions. It's dark leaves are variegated with dark red-purple and the reverse emerges a noticeable solid red. The fruit is inconsequential even if it does develop, but who needs it with leaves like that. Though very hardy it can sometimes die back to the ground only to come back like gang-busters the next season to perhaps 8 feet. It will be taller if it still retains some height through the winter.

Minimum temperature: -10° F