Acidic / Chalky / Alkaline / Clay / Heavy / Moist / Well Drained / Light / Sandy
Chinese dwarf banana or golden lotus banana, Musa lasiocarpa, is native to the mountains of China, at altitudes of around 2500m. Sufficiently hardy to be grown outside in the British Isles, it bears a large rosette of yellow bracts, which looks similar to a lotus (hence one of its common names). Tiny flowers grow in between the bracts. Its leaves have a slight glaucous sheen to them and are more resistant to wind than other bananas in the Musa genus. It’s ideal for growing in a tropical style garden.
Grow Musa lasiocarpa in moist but well-drained soil in full sun to partial shade. Protect with fleece and add a thick mulch to cover the roots over winter.
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Musa and wildlife
Musa has no particular known value to wildlife in the UK.
