I've had a clump growing in zone 6a for about a decade now (8+ trunks this year after a mild winter). The tallest right now are about 7 feet (I've had maximum height of around 12 feet by September).

No deer (so far) have gotten into my fenced yard.

I mulch the M. basjoo with straw every fall after a couple of hard freezes, and remove it by late April.

There are a number of houses here in Memphis that grow huge clumps of the bananas and they do not do anything to protect them. They get huge every year. I wouldn't bother protecting them in zone 7.

Ok but do any of you guys get flower or fruit on them? That is what I'm most interested in about growing this banana even though I know the fruit isn't edible

You need to keep the pseudostem tall through the winter in order for them to fruit. You will not be able to fruit any type of Musa banana if the pseudostem mushes back to the ground each year (unless super short cycle). I'm in Georgia and the Basjoo pseudostems needs to be protected here in order to keep height with the winter temps or the pseudostem needs to be big in order for it not to mush back to the corm in our winter.

I would not try to protect the pseudostem in NJ since it gets too cold and you will get frustrated trying each year (unless you go with extreme measures). You can dry-store some in your basement or garage when they get bigger over 5-6 feet plus. people have had much success doing that and I'm afraid its the only way to get them have a chance of fruiting unless you setup an inside grow room or get a greenhouse.

Thanks. Guess its not worth growing this in my climate

Why does the fact that it's highly unlikely to flower make it unworthy? I can't imagine being concerned about getting a basjoo to flower. They are impressive, carefree and reliably come back from the ground to be 12+' tall year after year. My biggest clump has 17 basjoos breaking soil at the moment. Another has around 7, and the third has 4 or 5. I water and fertilize them regularly, and that's about it as far as their care goes.

The Musa Basjoo is not edible so even if you get it to flower, you won't want to eat the bananas. Its an ornamental banana plant that gives your yard a cool tropical look. If your goal is eating back yard bananas and not for ornamental purposes then you will need to for sure plan to over winter bananas inside or in a nice greenhouse for your zone.

If a plant is capable of flowering and yet it doesn't, it is of no value to me. Even if the flowers weren't its main attributes. Thats just my rule.

I have successfully overwintered then in zone 5b for 3 years. Chopped them down to two feet tall wrapped a few christmas lights around the trunk and put a trash can over it and it was good to go. (this was done early Nov) I believe the lowest zone some edible bananas can take is 8b-9a.