Plant Profile: Musa basjoo
This plant was far and away the most stunning performer in the first year of my garden transformation.
Musa basjoo is found (and was originally described) growing in the Ryukyu islands of southern Japan. (It is now known to have originated in subtropical southern China, where it is also widely cultivated, with wild populations found in Sichuan province. Source: Wikipedia) Because their thick stems (trunks) are made up of leaf stalks, this "tree" is actually a herb (a herbaceous perennial).
Having arrived the autumn previous, I kept mine on the windowsill in my library over the winter, planting them out once any danger of frosts had passed (which, given the Beast from the East blew in quite late in the season, was fairly late for my area).
They seemed to really enjoy the very warm summer we had and grew from small 1 foot babies that looked more like corn stalks to over 6 feet (with individual leaves being 4 foot long and 2 foot wide - they were enormous!) trees. They also produced quite a number of "pups" that made 3 to 4 feet stems by the end of the season.
One article states:
I am still learning and experimenting with this plant - this will be its first winter outside (wrapped), but given it grows all the way down to 6C, I'm wondering if it will truly go dormant over winter? I will check the wrapped stand of trees on dry sunny days to make sure they aren't rotting!
As they will be starting growth from about 5 feet next year, I'm looking forward to 10-12 foot trees! All this in only two years. Can't get much better than that!
Some stakes, horticultural fleece and a bale of straw:
Useful references for more information:
Architectural Plants
Urban Jungle
Musa basjoo is found (and was originally described) growing in the Ryukyu islands of southern Japan. (It is now known to have originated in subtropical southern China, where it is also widely cultivated, with wild populations found in Sichuan province. Source: Wikipedia) Because their thick stems (trunks) are made up of leaf stalks, this "tree" is actually a herb (a herbaceous perennial).
Having arrived the autumn previous, I kept mine on the windowsill in my library over the winter, planting them out once any danger of frosts had passed (which, given the Beast from the East blew in quite late in the season, was fairly late for my area).
They seemed to really enjoy the very warm summer we had and grew from small 1 foot babies that looked more like corn stalks to over 6 feet (with individual leaves being 4 foot long and 2 foot wide - they were enormous!) trees. They also produced quite a number of "pups" that made 3 to 4 feet stems by the end of the season.
One article states:
"At the height of the growing season their leaves increase by over 10mm per hour"
I am still learning and experimenting with this plant - this will be its first winter outside (wrapped), but given it grows all the way down to 6C, I'm wondering if it will truly go dormant over winter? I will check the wrapped stand of trees on dry sunny days to make sure they aren't rotting!
As they will be starting growth from about 5 feet next year, I'm looking forward to 10-12 foot trees! All this in only two years. Can't get much better than that!
Some stakes, horticultural fleece and a bale of straw:
Useful references for more information:
Architectural Plants
Urban Jungle
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