Musa acuminata 'Zebrina'

RHS Plant Profile
stripe-leaved banana

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Synonyms

Musa 'Rojo', Musa acuminata 'Bloodleaf', Musa acuminata 'Rojo', Musa acuminata 'Sumatrana', Musa acuminata subsp. zebrina, Musa zebrina

Bedding Conservatory Greenhouse
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A tender, upright perennial to 2.5m tall, with huge, paddle-shaped, burgundy-splashed leaves. In summer cream or yellow flowers may be produced from purple bracts; these are followed, in ideal conditions, by small banana fruits

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

1.5-2.5 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
2–5 years
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
1.5-2.5 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but 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
Columnar upright
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
Unresolved

How to Grow

Cultivation

Under 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. See banana cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by sowing pre-soaked seed in spring. Separate suckers in early spring, removing older leaves

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Sub-tropical
  • Bedding
  • Conservatory and greenhouse

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

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

Diseases

Generally disease-free