Japanese fibre banana

Perennial

Musa basjoo

Japanese fibre banana

A vigorous banana with huge green leaves and clumping pseudostems for a lush summer canopy.

  • Full sun
  • 2.5–5 m (8–16 ft)
  • 2–4 m (7–13 ft)
  • H4 · Zone 6
  • July–September
  • Deciduous
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

This Chinese banana rapidly produces large leaves from fleshy pseudostems. Mature retained stems may flower and form small, seedy, inedible fruit in warm summers. The cold rating refers to an established, deeply mulched rootstock; foliage and unprotected stems are frost tender, so winter wrapping preserves height.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun
Height 2.5–5 m (8–16 ft)
Spread 2–4 m (7–13 ft)
Hardiness H4 · Zone 6
Flowers July–September
Soil Chalk, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Suckering, Upright
Water High
Maintenance Moderate
Musa basjoo flower

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -10°C (14°F)
pH Range 5.5–7.5
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Soil Tolerance

  • Chalk
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Japanese fibre banana
Japanese fibre banana
Persistence Deciduous
Colour Green
Leaf shape / texture oblong_paddle
  • Architectural foliage

Foliage interest: May–November

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Flowering
Foliage
Fruiting
Propagate
  • Flowering Jul Aug Sep
  • Foliage May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
  • Fruiting Sep Oct Nov
  • Propagate May Jun Jul

How to propagate

Ways to grow more Japanese fibre banana: the usual steps for each method.

Offsets, runners and bulblets Mar–Apr, Aug–Sep Easy

You'll need: A trowel, small pots and compost.

  1. Find the small plants, offsets or bulblets growing beside the parent plant, or on its runners.
  2. Gently separate them with some roots, cutting any runner from the parent.
  3. Pot them up, or replant them at the same depth, and water.
How long
Grows on within a few weeks.
It's worked when
New leaves on the young plants.
Then
Grow them on until they're a good size before planting out.
Division Mar–Apr, Sep–Oct Easy

You'll need: A garden fork or spade (two forks back to back help with big clumps) and a sharp knife.

  1. Water the plant well the day before.
  2. Dig up the whole clump with a fork, keeping as much root as you can.
  3. Split it into pieces about the size of your fist, each with healthy roots and shoots: pull them apart by hand, or cut tough clumps with a knife or spade.
  4. Throw away any old, woody middle.
  5. Replant the pieces straight away at the same depth, and water them in well.
How long
Settles in within a few weeks.
It's worked when
Fresh new growth within a few weeks.
Then
Water in dry spells for the rest of the season.

Remove offsets with their own roots in warm weather. Keep divisions sheltered and well watered until growth resumes.

Maintenance Calendar

  • Apr Unwrap gradually as frost risk falls and inspect stems
  • May Feed generously and mulch around actively growing clumps
  • Jun Water deeply and frequently in warm dry weather
  • Jul Remove rooted offsets if more plants are needed
  • Oct Wrap retained stems with dry insulation and a ventilated rain cap
  • Nov Mulch the rootstock deeply without trapping standing water
  • Dec Check insulation remains dry and securely supported

Garden Design

Works well in: Japanese / Zen, Modern / Contemporary, Tropical / Exotic

Allow a broad leaf canopy and protect from strong winds that shred leaves. Wrapping stems gives earlier height than annual regrowth from ground level.

Companion planting: Cannas, Gingers, Tree ferns, Large grasses

Wildlife Value

  • Shelter

Safety

No well-established major toxicity. Fruit is seedy and unsuitable as a dessert banana; wet fallen leaves can be slippery.