Musa sikkimensis - Hardy Banana

The Himalayan banana tree, also known as Musa sikkimensis, is a plant adapted to harsh high-mountain winters, which is a testament to its hardiness. Still very rare in our gardens, this tree species develops a massive trunk tinged with red and remarkable foliage, composed of large green leaves striped with burgundy, on the back of which is a similar dark red tone. It blooms in summer with pink bract flowers which are followed, in a warm climate, by inedible fruits. Fantastic for exotic decor, its growth rate is such that it already forms a beautiful plant in one season. To be grown in large containers, on the terrace, as an indoor plant, or in open ground, in a sunny location. This beautiful plant requires deep, fertile, fresh but drained soil.

This banana tree, also known as Musa hookeri, or Darjeeling banana, is a giant herbaceous perennial, equipped with a tuberous rootstock, from the Musaceae family. It grows in the forests of the Himalayas, at altitudes of about 1700 m (5577 ft 5 in), sometimes up to 2000 m (6561 ft 8 in). This plant is semelparous, or annual, meaning it dies after the ripening of the fruit, and new trunks appear each year from buds carried by the rootstock. It develops a pseudo-trunk (stipe) green tinged with red, constituted by the petiolate leaves rolled and tightened around each other, but never producing wood. The leaves spread their immense lamina in a fan shape, quickly forming a beautiful clump of 3.50 m (11 ft 6 in) in height and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) in width.

Its ornamental interest lies in its leaves, light green striped with burgundy-purple of tropical charm. They measure between 1.5 and 3 m (4 ft 11 in and 9 ft 10 in) long. In a warm climate, it produces yellow to cream flowers in summer, surrounded by pink bracts, which are followed, in a warm region, by fruits with a sweetish but hard pulp, of no culinary interest, resembling bananas. In winter the leaves disappear at the first frosts but the plant will grow again from the base the following spring. Its hardiness is quite good (up to -12°C (10.4 °F)) for well-established specimens. It is preferable to protect the younger plants from heavy frosts.

Still little used in European gardens, the Himalayan banana tree can be used in mass planting, as a standalone or planted in a large pot on the terrace, or in the conservatory. In a pot, it is necessary to pay attention to watering and protect the pot in winter. This remarkable plant, like cannas, bamboos, giant miscanthus or castor beans, gives a highly exotic look to temperate gardens.