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| Bananas as ornamental plants | |
| The banana is the world’s largest herbaceous plant with enormous, graceful leaves for tropical and subtropical gardening and occasionally in large patio containers. One of the most common varieties traditionally used is Musa acuminata ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ also capable of producing fruit in warm enough temperatures. Particularly indicated for gardens are dwarf varieties of Musa basjoo (named the Japanese banana although of Chinese origin) that grow 2-3m tall and usually fruit in the 5th year. Female flowers are no longer receptive by the time the male flowers produce pollen and so it is necessary to have at least 2 plants flowering ‘out of synchronization’. Musa basjoo ‘Sakhalin’ is one of the hardiest varieties (-7°C). Musa ‘Dhussray’ from N.E.India also resists cold nights and occasional frosts. One great favourite in Victorian times was Ensete ventricosum. The variety ‘Maurelii’ has richly coloured leaves. Young leaves are reddish maroon fading to orange red at he margins when older (Ensete is included in the Musaceae family and closely related to the Musa genus). Musa sikkimensis grows to 2m plus and the leaves have an attractive maroon midrib. Young leaves have prominent markings. Musa lasiocarpa (Musella lasiocarpa) grows to 1.5m. The conical trunks with grey green leaves produce bright yellow waxy infloresecnces that can last for several months. Plants are wind resistant which can be a problem with other species and varieties due to the shreading of leaves. Musa lasciocapa is being micropropagated and is already offered as a pot plant by a grower in Holland. The species is native to the Yunnan provice of China and looks very good in a rustic Mediterranean garden setting. It can also be potted up as a patio plant. Banana plants can be treated as permanant landscape plants or seasonal plants to be overwintered in containers. Plants can also be given frost protection during the winter by cutting back the leaves in late autumn and insulating the trunk with materials such a straw plus an outside wrapping. Normally trunks must be protected form temperatures below – 4°C. RHS “Garden” Fax 0044 1733 282655, E-mail: thegarden@rhs.org.uk www.rhs.org.uk Plant Nurseries: Kobakoba Tel 0044 1458 210700, E-mail: plants@kobakoba.co.uk www.kobakoba.co.uk and Mula Nurseries tel 0044 1386 833171, E-mail: plants@mulu.co.uk www.mulu.co.uk |
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