Musa ornata

RHS Plant Profile

flowering banana

Janet Cubey & Wolfgang Bopp 2000

Herbaceous Perennial Conservatory Greenhouse

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A robust evergreen perennial to 4m in height, with oblong leaves to 2m in length, and erect spikes of orange-yellow flowers with pink bracts, followed by greenish-yellow fruits

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 10–20 years
Max Spread: 1-1.5 metres
Max Height: 2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun

Aspect: South–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: Suckering
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: Burma & India

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in humus-rich soil in full sun. Will need protection over winter. Place in sheltered area as the wind tends to shred leaves. Grow under glass in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. See banana cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed, separate suckers or by division

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Architectural
Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required, but remove spent foliage and cutting back in autumn may be needed

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and aphids under glass

Diseases

Generally disease-free