Banana relative of the Philippines, reaching 6 m, grown for the long, strong, saltwater-resistant fibre stripped from the leaf sheaths. The classic marine cordage and now a high-value pulp for currency paper and tea bags.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 10–12 | −1.1 °C to 15.6 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H1c | 5 °C to 10 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 9 | −1 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 5–7 | 5 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
Growing notes
- Leaf sheath fibre stripped from the trunk-like stem (technically a pseudostem of compressed leaf sheaths)
- Saltwater-resistant — the standard rope fibre of the age of sail before synthetic fibres
- Modern uses include high-value pulp for banknotes, tea bags, and specialty papers, where its strength and absence of lignin are advantageous
- Fully tropical — needs warm, humid, frost-free conditions year-round
- Not reliably hardy outdoors in Canada — Canadian zone values shown represent the system maximum and do not imply garden cultivation north of the warmest coastal pockets.
Categories
Related plants
Cross-check Abaca (Manila hemp) against your zones