Musa Acuminata ‘Bordelon’ ~ Bordelon Banana monrovia IMAGE: Photos by Penn State

IMAGE: Photos by Penn State University

The fragrant trumpet-shaped lavender flowers with white leading to yellow throats bloom freely with warm weather

The Colormax series has improved heat tolerance and can bloom well under heat stress

Rose Mallow is a fast-growing woody native perennial with a rounded shrubby habit and large toothed foliage that has white hairs underneath

Piedmont Region

Musa Acuminata ‘Bordelon’ ~ Bordelon Banana monrovia IMAGE: Photos by Penn StateBordelon Banana is a large tropical perennial with a trunk like false stem and huge paddle shaped foliage marked with bronze burgundy and marron undersides. Grows best in full sun and rich, consistently moist well drained soils. Bordelon is ornamental banana with attractive flowers but does not fruit, and if it gets bright direct sunlight indoors it will produce its signature large pink flowers in summer once mature. Treat as an annual if outside.