Musa coccinea

RHS Plant Profile
scarlet banana

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scarlet banana RHS

Synonyms

Musa uranoscopus misapplied

Conservatory Greenhouse Bedding Houseplants

An evergreen, palm-like, suckering perennial. It bears paddle-shaped long, glossy green leaves. In summer, erect spirals of tubular, yellow flowers are enclosed in red bracts. These are followed by inedible, small orange fruit

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1-1.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1-1.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or East–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H1B

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Musaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Tufted
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
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Indochina

How to Grow

Cultivation

Should be grown indoors in frost-free conditions, but pots may be put outside in summer in a sheltered spot. See banana cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed or by potting up suckers after flowering

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Architectural
  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

Remove damaged or dead leaves

Pests

Will be susceptible to the usual glasshouse pests, including glasshouse whitefly and mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free