Description
Musa sikkimensis Darjeeling Bananaa truly remarkable and lesser-known banana species, recently introduced to cultivation. This extraordinary plant features an imposing pseudo-trunk that reaches up to 4.5m (14ft) in height and 45cm (18in) in diameter, adorned with shades of red. Its new leaves and leaf-midribs exhibit captivating hues of purple, and a portion of the plants even displays beautifully mottled dark red leaves. The Darjeeling Banana is remarkably cold-hardy, akin to Musa basjoo, thriving in montane forests at altitudes up to 2000m (6000ft) in the Himalayas of NE-India.
Initial outdoor trials in the US, Britain, Germany, and Switzerland have demonstrated exceptional resistance to cold and frost. As is characteristic of all bananas, this species boasts rapid growth, especially when provided with rich soil and ample water. While its fruits offer a sweetish pulp, they are firm and contain a few large seeds. This novel discovery holds tremendous promise as an ornamental addition to both temperate and cooler tropical gardens. We believe that the Darjeeling Banana has unparalleled potential, surpassing any other cold-tolerant Musa currently in cultivation.
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