Musa basjoo Tchetchenia - Hardy Banana

Musa basjoo 'Tchetchenia' is a magnificent Japanese banana tree, with beautiful foliage that is less sensitive to wind. This variety is cultivated for its highly ornamental appearance, bringing a real touch of exoticism to any flower bed. Slightly larger than the species, it also has thicker and more robust leaves, as well as a larger floral bud. Give it a prime location near an entrance or patio. Hardy down to -18°C (-0.4°F).

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

The plant is deciduous in winter, with all vegetation freezing, but it regrows in spring because the stump withstands severe frosts. At maturity, 'Tchetchenia' will measure about 3 to 4.5m (10 to 15ft) in all directions, depending on growing conditions. 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 will be followed by the formation of inedible bananas.

In the garden, 'Tchetchenia' 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 placed 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 hardy plants with a tropical appearance, such as Beschorneria yuccoides, Melianthus major, Chamaerops humilis, Fatsia, Tetrapanax or Yuccas. It can also be grown in large pots, preferably outdoors. It alone serves as a decoration for a 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 (bird of paradise).

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.