Banana Tree

In USDA Zones 9-10, ‘Oronoco’ is basically evergreen and may be grown outdoors year round without employing significant winter protective measures. In USDA Zones 8 and 7, ‘Orinoco’ will usually survive winter outdoors if given adequate winter protection (burlap or frost cloth on pseudostems, thick root mulch and surround the pseudostems with fencing filled with leaves to 3-4’ tall). Pseudostems containing unripened fruit may be cut before the first fall frost and brought inside for placement in a bucket of water until the fruit ripens.