Musa sikkimensis Red Tiger - Hardy Banana

• Common Name: Darjeeling Banana
• Situation: Full/Part sun, well-drained/moist soil
• Eventual Height and Spread: 3m x 1.5m
• Hardiness: Hardy

Musa Red Tiger is very similar to the other hardy banana Musa basjoo apart from its large green leaves are striped with vivid red markings. The only other real difference between the two is that the Musa Red Tiger is a little hardier than the Musa basjoo, and tolerates windy conditions better.

Musa Red Tiger is an excellent foliage plant to bring a tropical atmosphere to any planting scheme. The Musa Red Tiger is known as a hardy banana but this only applies to the bulb of the plant. The main stem and leaves will usually die back in winter if left unprotected and re-shoot in the following spring. Alternatively pot up Musa sikkimensis prior to the first frosts and over-winter them indoors as an indoor plant.

As with most herbaceous tropical plants, Musa sikkimensis love to be spoilt with water and nutrients, keep these tropical plants well-watered and feed plenty. In simple terms the more water and food - the bigger the tropical plant, and the more lush and vigorous the growth.

Look to use Musa basjoo in fairly sheltered spots, planted amongst other tropical foliage plants such as the Colocasia esculenta, Alocasia, and Hedychium coronarium. Amongst these to keep all year round interest, use some evergreen tropical-effect plants such as the Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortuneii) and Fatsia japonica.

Musa Red Tiger is also known as the Darjeeling Banana.