Musa velutina

RHS Plant Profile
pink banana

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Musa velutina?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
pink banana RHS
Award of Garden Merit
Conservatory Greenhouse Herbaceous Perennial
Buy this from Plant Nurseries
5 Suppliers

An evergreen perennial to 2.5m tall, with slender stems bearing paddle-shaped leaves and arching spikes of pink flowers with showy pink bracts in summer, followed by inedible, pink banana-like fruits

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Loam

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
5–10 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade
Aspect
West–facing or South–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
NE India

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in a sheltered site in humus-rich soil in full sun or under glass in a peat-free, loam-based potting compost in full light with shade from hot sun. Water freely from spring to summer and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser monthly. Keep just moist in winter. Repot ornamental species annually or every other year, in spring. See banana cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed or divide established clumps

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants

Pruning

Remove older leaves in spring

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite

Diseases

Generally disease-free