Musa basjoo also know as the Japanese banana is a good choice for those planning a tropical garden in the UK as the banana is fairly hardy. It can grow up to 5m tall and provides a striking tropical appearance in the garden. In the UK climate the leaves will die back in winter although you can normally expect new growth from the ground in the spring. The plant will need winter protection. In London gardens which have there own micro climate you can often see the banana plants growing tall as they have maintained their trunk throughout the winter.
This is one drawback in colder areas as you will often unwrap the banana in the Spring only to find the truck has not not survived and you lost the height of the banana. However, you can still expect new growth from the base.
Musa basjoo is one of the easiest exotic plants to grow in the UK, provided you get the growing conditions right. The hardy Japanese banana can reach 3–4 m in a single season in British gardens when well fed and sheltered. In less sheltered conditions the plant will die back during the first frosts.
It’s best to plant in late spring once the danger of frost has passed.
During summer, Musa basjoo grows rapidly, producing new leaves every 7–10 days when fed regularly. A high‑nitrogen feed applied weekly can help with growth.
In winter you can cut off leaves after frost and wrap the stem in dry straw or fleece. This gives the plant a chance of surviving the UK winter and hopefully preserves height for next year.
To learn more about growing Banana Plants in the UK and to see a greater selection of Banana Plants visit the Royal Horticulture Society website.