They're going bananas in our public parks! Exotic plants coming soon

Huddersfield Daily Examiner (Huddersfield, England), Feb 8, 2008

Byline: By JOANNE DOUGLAS News Reporter

GREEN-fingered gardeners will be going bananas this summer!

Banana plants look set to add an exotic touch to Kirklees Council's floral displays this summer.

But, sadly, the 120 banana plants will not grow any fruit.

Palm trees and other exotic planting will also be introduced throughout Kirklees.

Paul Marshall, the manager at the council's Bradley nursery, said: "Banana plants can survive in a lot of places in the summer.

"The plants we will be getting will not fruit; they will be dwarf plants.

"Usually the plants that do grow fruit tend to be between 6ft and 8ft tall.

"I wanted something different to bring in and put in the flower beds. Banana plants will certainly make the beds look more interesting.

"We will have to bring them in during the winter and look after them at the nursery."

The banana plants will make their first appearance in June, when they will be planted alongside palm trees in parks and open spaces.

But they will only be 4ft tall, which is too young to produce any fruit.

When they are removed in winter, nursery staff will take cuttings, so the tropical plants can continue to be grown.

Mr Marshall added: "We are always on the lookout for new and exciting plants; we don't want everything to look the same every year."

The green-fingered gardeners at the Bradley nursery are also sowing more than 110,000 seeds to produce other flowers for this spring and summer.

Plants being grown from seed include geraniums, begonias and Bizzie Lizzies.

The nursery is also taking orders for hanging baskets and containers.

The deadline for all orders is the end of March and the gardeners will start to create them in May.

For more information phone the nursery on 01484 223899.

CAPTION(S):

EXOTIC: Kirklees Council is ready to put banana plants in its parks (S)