Musa xishuangbannaensis (syn. Musa itinerans var. gigantea)

 

Giant Banana, Xishuangbanna Banana

 

One new banana species oft he section Mmusa, which was introducted to Germany only in the late nineties of the past century this species grows in the cool mountain forests of Yunnan to the altitudes of 9,000 feet.

 

This species can grow to 40 feet tall, has one massive red pseudotrunk  with one diameter of to nearly 2 feet and the undersides of the leaves are reddish. Flowers and fruits aren’t watched in Europa yet. It belongs with Musa ingens from Papua New Guinea to the world’s largest banana species. Musa ingens self grows to 90 feet tall, but unfortunately not hardy and grows too large for one greenhouse or wintergarden. The fruits are loved to eat by monkeys and elephants, even the leaves are frost tolerant to a certain degree.

 

If you want to have success with it in the outdoor culture, you should plant it only as a mature plant with suckers and partly woody corm out, the hardiness is probably similarly to Musa balbisiana. Where necessary, heat it by heating cables at the same winter protection method like Musa basjoo. However one Musa xishuangbannaensis (under the old name Musa itinerans var. gigantea) has survived the winter 2005/06 in Bückeburg/Germany with 10°F under one very thick layer of bark mulch (Michael Peuthert, Bückeburg/Germany, pers. notice).

 

One plant is germinated by Helton Josué of Frutas Raras. If the plant does survive long time so that it will sucker, then Helton will ship me one pup to Lucianópolis.

 

 

 

Young Musa xishuangbannaensis (Photo: Frank Glavin, U. S. A.)	Pseudotrunk of Musa xishuangbannaensis (Photo: Frank Glavin, U. S. A.)