About
This fast-growing, hardy, upright, suckering perennial to 4m tall with very large, thick, paddle-like glossy green foliage with marron-red stripes and purple undersides. A thick, woody stem develops as this plant matures. Mature plants may bear long-lasting, yellow-brown flowers enclosed in purple bracts from summer into autumn, followed by yellowish fruits.
About the genus
Musa are suckering evergreen perennials with very large, paddle-shaped leaves whose stalk-bases form a false stem, and clusters of tubular flowers with colourful bracts, followed by cylindrical fruits
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeClay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained, Well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, West-facing
ExposureSheltered
UK hardinessH3
Plant details
Plant typeBedding, Conservatory Greenhouse, Herbaceous Perennial
HabitSuckering
FoliageEvergreen
Height2.5-4 metres
Spread2.5-4 metres
Time to full height5-10 years
Suggested usesArchitectural, City and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Sub-tropical
Care notes
CultivationUnder glass, grow in peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light, with shade from hot sun. Water freely while in growth and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser every month; keep just moist in winter. Repot every 1 or 2 years in spring. Outdoors grow in sheltered site in humus-rich soil and either bring pots indoors, or provide winter protection in the form of biodegradable horticultural fleece and hessian wraps. See banana cultivation
PruningRemove damaged or dead leaves
PropagationPropagate by sowing pre-soaked seed in spring. Separate suckers in early spring, removing older leaves
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and aphids
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free