Musa basjoo
Japanese banana
Delivery options
- Standard £5.95
- Position: full sun
- Soil: moderately fertile, moist but well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: average
- Hardiness: borderline hardy (will need winter protection)
An extraordinary, award-winning architectural plant with huge, green, paddle-like leaves that can each grow up to 3m long. 'Basjoo' produces creamy yellow flowers in summer, that are often followed by yellowish-green fruit. These are not tasty enough to eat, however the plants look brilliant when incorporated into jungle-style planting schemes, and can be potted up into large pots and treated as a dynamic feature.
Though the root is fairly hardy, you should apply a thick layer of mulch to protect the crown in autumn and protect the foliage with a blanket of fleece or straw. In colder areas, or where the soil remains heavy in winter, they are best grown in pots, so they can be over-wintered under glass.