Musa sikkimensis Himalayensis Speciosa - Hardy banana

Musa 'Himalayensis Speciosa' is a hardy banana plant originating from the foothills of the Himalayas and selected in France, still little known but promising. Its large, light green, slightly wavy leaves create a decidedly exotic atmosphere in a sheltered garden or in a container on a patio. As a bonus, it can, given hot, prolonged summers, produce bunches of small edible bananas with a pleasant flavour. Not demanding, but sensitive to cold during its early years, this banana plant requires rich, well-drained soil and regular watering.

The banana plant 'Himalayensis Speciosa' is a recent French horticultural selection derived from the botanical species Musa sikkimensis, native to the mountainous regions of Sikkim, Bhutan and northern India. This variety is ornamental, fairly hardy and capable of fruiting. The plant has an upright habit, then slightly spreading; its growth is rapid once it gets warm. It forms a massive pseudostem and can reach 3 to 4 m in height in open ground, with a spread of 2 to 3 m. In a pot, its development is more moderate, around 2.5 m. The foliage is composed of large elliptical leaves with pointed tips, slightly wavy on the edges, light green with the underside veined in pale red, potentially measuring up to 2 m long by 50 cm wide.
The above-ground vegetation is deciduous in cold climates, but will persist in winter where it does not freeze. Like all Musa, 'Himalayensis Speciosa' produces offshoots from a clustered and rhizomatous root system, spreading and shallow. The spectacular flowering appears after 2 to 3 years of cultivation, in summer. It takes the form of a long spadix emerging from the centre of the pseudostem, protected by large pink to purple bracts. The flowers are small and arranged in spirals, pollinated by insects. If summer warmth extends into autumn, the fruits can develop. They are arranged in compact bunches: the small, cylindrical, edible bananas with sweet flesh, ripen around October. The pseudostem is green, sometimes dotted with red or brown nuances depending on exposure.

With its architectural habit and tropical look, Musa 'Himalayensis Speciosa' can create a jungle setting in temperate regions. In open ground, it becomes the centrepiece of a lush border, surrounded by giant cannas ('Marabout', 'Musifolia') or large colocasias such as 'Jack's Giant' or 'Noble Gigante'. In a pot, it creates a spectacular effect on a sunny patio. Its generous silhouette works well near a pond or at the back of a border. We also love it with Purple Phormiums.

Just like perennial plants, banana plants are dormant during winter: their aerial parts dry out and die. Plants dispatched in winter are therefore cut back to the ground (leaves and stems) by our teams to allow a better start for the plant in spring.