Musa basjoo
MEW-suh BAS-joo
Common Names: Hardy Banana, Japanese Banana
Family: Musaceae
Origin: Africa and Asia
Growth: Upwards, clumping. Old leaves naturally fall off
Light: Full sun
Foot Candles: 250+
Water: Keep evenly moist
Humidity: 30%+
Temperature: -24°C to 40°C
Soil: Well draining humus-rich mix
Container: Irrigated garden bed
Nutrients: 15-10-10 Monthly
Propagation: Seed or division
Interiorscape Use: Large leaf tropical, unique specimen
Common Pests: Mealybugs, Aphids, Spider Mites, Scale, Thrips.
Common Issues: Root rot when sitting in water. Leaf drop with insufficient light or watering.
Comments: The most cold-hardy banana tree, grown for it fast-growing tropical foliage and ornamental inedible fruits. The rhizomes are cold hardy to -24°C. If you live in an area that gets colder, you can try using either a rose-cone or heavily mounding the rhizome with mulch after it has been cut down for the season in Fall. Alternatively, it can be grown outdoors for the growing season, and the rhizome can be dug up and brought indoors for the winter.
Toxicity: Safe.
