Dispelling the myth that Banana 'Musa basjoo' "comes back from the roots" if killed to ground level It's called the "Hardy Banana" as it can regenerate after frosts down to around -10C/14F where all top growth is killed, but can, regrow from ground level, however, this is NOT from the roots themselves.
If it could be regrown from roots we'd all have a bonanza propagating them from root cuttings, but alas the roots cannot grow a new growth point. New growth buds are on the, mostly underground, rhizome, ( see pic for rhizome definition) which is the 'stem' of the plant. Splitting hairs I hear some scream, but this is why knowing the difference is important... if you have a young pup removed from a parent, or a tissue cultured plant, sold by the 1000, the small, or tiny, bit of rhizome they have probably won't have any viable node growth buds. That means if the top and it's growth point are killed by severe frost, there is nothing to grow back from.
As plants get older the rhizomes will produce dormant buds capable of regenerating the plant, and then pups, or suckers. Another point to remember, is that the rhizome on older plants can grow above the surface, resembling a small elephant's trunk. In it's natural environment this would be covered by leaf litter, so if you have one exposed, it needs to be mulched to keep moist in summer, and frost free in winter.
- Dave Brown 2023