Musa basjoo Dajiao - Hardy Banana

Musa basjoo 'Dajiao' will allow you to produce your own edible bananas, either directly in the garden in a mild climate, or by cultivating it in a container to overwinter indoors. Hardy to about -7°C (19.4°F) (an established plant can withstand less and regrow from the stump, but only 2-year-old plants can bear fruit), this fruiting banana tree truly lives up to its name by rewarding us with fragrant and edible fruits. This variety not only creates a tropical scene, but also delights us with its bananas! It should be grown in moist soil, as this banana tree is water-hungry. Position it in full sun, sheltered from strong winds.

Musa basjoo (synonym Musa japonica) is not native to Japan, but to China. It originates from open woods and forest edges with a tropical to subtropical, mild and humid climate. It is an herbaceous plant that reaches the size of a tree, growing several metres tall for most varieties. The banana tree does not have a trunk, but a stipe formed by overlapping leaf sheaths. It belongs to the Musaceae family, which includes only 3 genera, all with a banana-like appearance: Musa (with numerous species and varieties), Ensete (with only 7 species), and Musella lasiocarpa, a dwarf plant known for its magnificent yellow decorative flowers. Musa basjoo is one of the hardiest species among banana trees; its foliage freezes quickly, but the stump can regrow after frost down to -10°C (14°F), which explains its success as an ornamental plant.

The 'Dajiao' variety is a hybrid resulting from the cross-breeding of Musa balbisiana and Musa sikkimensis, also originating from China. It grows rapidly and, from the second year of planting, forms a plant about 3m (10ft) high and wide, with large leaves characteristic of the genus. In 'Dajiao', the leaves have red reflections on the underside, inherited from its parent M. sikkimensis. From the second year of cultivation, it produces yellow flowers with a purple bract, between May-June and August-September, which will provide a real bunch of bananas (ripe about 4 to 5 months after flowering). Although the variety's name means "big banana" (da = big in Chinese, and xiang jiao = banana), these fruits are nevertheless smaller than those we usually buy in stores, but they are fragrant and have a very good taste.

This is the hardiest edible variety, as it can withstand temperatures around -7°C (19.4°F) or even lower. However, be careful! If it freezes and regrows from the stump, you won't have any bananas in the first year; the stipe must be at least 2 years old to produce. 'Dajiao' can therefore be cultivated outside in mild climates. In colder regions, grow it in a pot to overwinter indoors (provided you have a suitable space, as it will reach about 2.5m (8ft) in a container). In areas allowing its cultivation in the ground, it will need a sunny location, preferably sheltered from the wind that could damage its large foliage, and in moist soil, with regular watering during the growing season. In these conditions, it will form a clump about 3m(10ft) in all directions, giving your garden a tropical look.

There's nothing like a banana tree to bring exoticism to the garden, and thanks to 'Dajiao', you can even produce your own tropical fruits! To perfect your exotic scene, plant it with other characteristic plants, such as palm trees like Washingtonia filifera, with its large palmate leaves and powerful stipe. Butia capitata, with its elegant long pinnate leaves, will also be a very good choice, especially since you can enjoy its fruits. In mild climates, you can also combine visual pleasure with gustatory attraction by planting citrus trees from the wide range of Citrus available.