Musa basjoo Sakhalin - Hardy Banana

Musa basjoo 'Sakhalin' is a fantastic compact Japanese banana tree, hardy to -16°C (3.2°F), and ready to make its entrance in all our gardens! This variety is said to have been selected on Sakhalin Island, northeast of Russia, which explains its excellent cold resistance. It is cultivated for its highly ornamental appearance, bringing a touch of exoticism to any flower bed. Slightly shorter than the species, it has lighter and more stout leaves. In summer, depending on the climate, large pale-yellow inflorescences may appear, protected by a brown bract in the shape of a leaf. The flowering is followed by the formation of a bunch of inedible bananas.

The Japanese Banana belongs to the Musaceae family. It is native to clear woods and forest edges in Japan, experiencing a tropical to subtropical, mild and humid climate. It is an herbaceous plant that is the size of a tree, reaching several metres in height for most varieties. It does not have a trunk but a stipe, formed by the sheaths of leaves imbricated in each other. Its growth is fast.

The 'Sakhalin' variety has a somewhat controversial origin; according to some, it is a Chinese clone imported to Europe in 1995. 'Sakhalin' distinguishes itself from the typical species by a more modest development, which will keep it within a volume of 3 cubic metres. Its leaves are also lighter, shorter, and wider than those of its cousin. They wither with the onset of frost. This astonishing banana tree is capable of regrowing from the stump after enduring prolonged frosts, or even occasionally very low temperatures.

In the garden, 'Sakhalin' can be planted in any region. It is hardy enough to be grown in open ground, with or without protection depending on the climate. It can be planted in isolation, in the centre of a lawn, or even better, near a doorway, to evoke the beautiful mansions built on distant islands. It can also be planted within a bed of tropical-looking but hardy plants, such as Beschorneria yuccoides, Melianthus major, Chamaerops humilis, Cordylines, Agaves, or Yuccas. It can also be grown in large pots, preferably outdoors, on a patio. It alone makes a decoration for the patio when it sits in a large container. In this use, it pairs well with other orangery plants, such as rose laurels, citrus trees, Chilean myrtle, mimosas, or Strelitzia reginae.

Just like perennial plants, banana trees are dormant during winter: their above-ground parts dry up and die. Plants shipped during winter are therefore cut back to the ground (leaves and stems) by our teams to allow for better growth in spring.