Golden lotus banana

Perennial

Musella lasiocarpa

Golden lotus banana

Also known as: Musa lasiocarpa, Ensete lasiocarpum

A compact banana relative with upright leaves and a long-lasting golden lotus-like flower head.

  • Full sun, Partial shade
  • 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
  • 0.5–1 m (2–3 ft)
  • H3 · Zone 8
  • May–October
  • Deciduous
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

This Chinese clumping perennial produces stiff, paddle-shaped leaves and, once mature, a striking head of yellow bracts enclosing small flowers. The flowering shoot gradually dies while offsets continue the clump. Leaves are frost tender; protect stems and roots in winter or overwinter containers frost-free.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun, Partial shade
Height 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
Spread 0.5–1 m (2–3 ft)
Hardiness H3 · Zone 8
Flowers May–October
Soil Clay, Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Clump forming, Upright
Water High
Maintenance Moderate

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature -5°C (23°F)
pH Range 5.5–7.5
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Soil Tolerance

  • Clay
  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Persistence Deciduous
Colour Grey-green, Green
Leaf shape / texture oblong_paddle
  • Architectural foliage

Foliage interest: May–October

Seasonal Timeline

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

How to propagate

Ways to grow more Golden lotus banana: the usual steps for each method.

Offsets, runners and bulblets Mar–Apr 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.
From seed Mar–May Easy

You'll need: Seed compost, a seed tray or small pots, labels, and a clear lid or plastic bag.

  1. Fill a tray or pots with seed compost, level it and firm it gently.
  2. Water the compost and let it drain.
  3. Sow the seeds thinly on top. Cover them with a fine layer of compost or vermiculite about as deep as the seed is big; leave tiny seeds uncovered.
  4. Label them, cover with a clear lid or bag, and keep them somewhere bright but out of hot sun.
  5. Keep the compost just moist, and take the cover off once seedlings appear.
How long
Usually comes up in 1 to 3 weeks.
It's worked when
Seedlings with their first pair of leaves.
Then
When each has its first true leaves, prick them out into their own small pots, holding them by a leaf, never the stem. Harden them off for a week or two before planting out.

Separate offsets only when they have roots. Seed needs warmth and may germinate irregularly; protect young plants during winter.

Maintenance Calendar

  • Apr Remove dead foliage and restart watering as growth resumes
  • May Move plants outside after frost and acclimatise gradually
  • Jun Feed and maintain generous moisture through summer
  • Jul Separate well-rooted offsets if required
  • Oct Shelter pots frost-free or insulate drained outdoor crowns
  • Dec Keep resting plants barely moist and remove rot promptly

Garden Design

Works well in: Modern / Contemporary, Tropical / Exotic

Fits smaller spaces than most bananas. Flowering begins only on mature shoots and the display can last several months.

Companion planting: Cannas, Gingers, Low grasses

Wildlife Value

  • Shelter

Safety

No well-established major toxicity; ornamental fruit is not a dessert banana.