My parents have banana trees scattered throughout their yard in north eastern North Carolina; and because of the less-than-tropical climate, they must take great care of these trees.  The trees are planted outdoors in the spring and moved into a greenhouse in the winter, to avoid the frosts.

Banana trees must have at least 10 months of frost free conditions, preferably above 50 degrees Fahrenheit in order to produce a flower stalk.

The flower stalk  produces a large purple bud.  Under each petal of the bud there is a “bunch” of white flowers which can potentially grow into a “bunch” of bananas.

Notice the two banana bunches that have begun to grow on this tree:

If damaging winds don’t harm the banana tree, my parents will  be enjoying ripe bananas in the early fall.