Musa sikkimensis 'Red Tiger'
Darjeeling banana 'Red Tiger'
'Red Tiger' is an upright, suckering perennial to 4m tall with large, glossy leaves with a maroon-red midrib, dark purple-red striping across the leaves on the upper surface and purple shading beneath. Mature plants may bear long-lasting, yellow-brown flowers enclosed in purple bracts from summer into autumn followed by yellowish fruits
Size
Ultimate height
2.5–4 metresTime to ultimate height
5–10 yearsUltimate spread
2.5–4 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Purple Red Variegated | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Brown Yellow | Green Purple Red Variegated | ||
| Autumn | Brown Yellow | Green Purple Red Variegated | ||
| Winter | Green Purple Red Variegated |
Position
- Full sun
- Partial shade
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H2Botanical details
- Family
- Musaceae
- Native to the UK
- 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
Unresolved
How to grow
Cultivation
Best 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
- Sub-tropical
- Architectural
- City and courtyard gardens
- Patio and container plants
- Wall side borders
Pruning
Remove damaged or dead leaves
Pests
Susceptible to the usual glasshouse pests, including glasshouse whitefly, red spider mite and mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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