Ornamental or nonfruit-bearing banana trees provide lush tropical foliage and interesting flowers for tropical gardeners. Found in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 11, ornamental bananas (Musa x paradisiaca) grow from a rhizome or a pup. Purchase ornamental banana rhizomes that can grow in your area and plant them in the late winter. Most ornamental bananas take one year to produce a flower. Search for a full-sun location for your banana tree. The ideal site will provide both full sun and protection from wind, since heavy winds can damage the banana plant leaves. Prepare a raised bed for your banana tree. MG Online advises mixing rich soil and coarse sand in equal parts to create a 1 to 2 foot high raised bed for planting. This rich soil mix will help keep your soil well draining, which benefits the banana tree. Dig a hole with your shovel once you've created the raised bed that is twice as large as your banana tree rhizome. Plant your rhizome in the prepared hole and cover it over with soil mix. Water the area until the soil becomes saturated. The rhizome will grow underground for a while and then begin to shoot up a stalk for your ornamental banana tree.