Musa sikkimensis Ever Red - Hardy Banana

The Musa sikkimensis 'Ever Red', also known as the Sikkim Banana Tree, is a variety derived from a relatively hardy banana tree, native to the forests of the Himalayas, with a stump that can withstand short periods of frost, down to -12°C. This distinctly exotic-looking variety produces green leaves with prominent red stripes, more so than the 'Red Tiger' from which it originates. Its leaves are quite wind-resistant, more so than those of the Musa basjoo. Its tropical appearance and ease of cultivation in fertile, moist soil make it a welcome addition to many gardens.

The Sikkim Banana Tree, also known as Musa hookeri or Darjeeling Banana Tree, is a giant herbaceous perennial with a tuberous rhizome, belonging to the Musaceae family. It grows in the Himalayan forests at altitudes of around 1700 m, sometimes up to 2000 m. The 'Ever Red' variety likewise develops a green pseudo-trunk (stipe) tinged with red, formed by the rolled and tight petioles of the leaves, but never producing wood.
Its ornamental attraction lies in its light green leaves with purple undersides, abundantly striped with burgundy-purple on top, exuding undeniable tropical charm. They reach a maximum length of 1.5 m, and quickly form a beautiful clump 3 to 4 m high and 1.5 to 2 m wide at 10 years old. In warm climates, it produces yellow to cream flowers in summer, surrounded by pink bracts followed, in hot regions, by 'bananas' with a sweetish but hard flesh, lacking in taste. In winter, the leaves disappear at the first frosts but the plant will regrow from the base the following spring. It is a semelparous plant, meaning that it dies after the ripening of the fruits, and new trunks appear each year from buds carried by the rhizome. Its hardiness is quite good (down to -12°C) for well-established specimens. It is advisable to protect younger plants from severe frosts.

Still underused in European gardens, the 'Ever Red' Himalayan Banana Tree can be used in borders, as a standalone plant, or placed in a large pot on patios or in conservatories. When potted, it is necessary to monitor watering and protect the pot in winter. This remarkable plant, like cannas, the Tetrapanax papyfera, bamboos, giant miscanthus, or castor oil plants, gives a highly exotic look to our temperate gardens.

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