Will a Banyan Tree grow in SW Louisiana?

Question

If so where can i find one to plant?

Answer 1

The banyan tree is not a Ficus benjamina. Banyan Trees get much larger. It will grow in areas where it stays above 45 deg F. NEVER getting below that.

Answer 2

Most people call them Ficus trees in the states. I think officially the Banyan is Ficus benjamina but Ficus nitida is very similar. Weather in the US is getting milder and milder right now. It has been warm like this in the past. Before the Civil War citrus trees, you know, oranges and such, grew in Louisiana. Citrus and ficus generally can grow in the same climate. Try a small one outside. Plant it near the south wall of the house (especially good if your house is brick or stone). Plant it April 15th so it has the longest possible time growing before the cold returns. Plant a few tall evergreen barrier plants to the east so that the early morning sun does not reach it until it has some time to warm up on cold mornings, before the bright direct sun hits it. Probably will survive a few winters and then a really cold snap will hurt or kill it. A fun experiment anyway.

Answer 3

Hi,
Re Banyan Tree in SW Louisiana,
I copied info from--www.plant cultures--I hope it answers your question. Good luck.

"A large forest tree in India,will not survive outside, except in the very hottest months of summer. Minimum temperature 12-15°C during the winter, 25-30°C in summer.

banyan can be grown for a limited time - often several years - as a pot plant. Even growing in a heated greenhouse it will reach 10m or so don't expect to be able to keep this plant for ever. It needs to be kept in a warm place all year round. This particular species is not as popular as other Ficus which are commonly grown as house plants, and can be harder to track down.

Cultivation
Banyans like a light position away from direct sunlight, so a north-facing windowsill is ideal.
As the plant grows move it into a bigger flowerpot, but you may have to grow it in a pot on the floor when it gets very large! Use a good brand of ordinary potting compost to repot it with. Feed the plant occasionally with a soluble fertilizer during the summer. Banyans like to be lightly misted with a fine spray of water every day during the growing season - if you can, use rainwater for this, as tapwater sometimes leaves greyish marks on the leaves.
Pests
Red spider mite can be a problem - the plants look pale and unhappy. If you look carefully you may see a fine webbing around the base of the leaves and the stems, and sometimes tiny specks of orange or rust colour on the backs of the leaves, which are the mites. Regular misting of the plants to keep the atmosphere around the leaves humid helps stop spider mites becoming established. "

Plant sources
Suppliers: You may find this plant in the indoor section of large garden centres.

It's sometimes called an India Rubber Plant, but has less shiny leaves than the true rubber plant, Ficus elastica.

Plant safety
There are no safety concerns."

Answer 4

NO!