Musa lasiocarpa (Chinese yellow banana)

Botanical name

Musa lasiocarpa

Other names

Yellow lotus of the earth mother, Chinese yellow banana, Musella lasiocarpa, Ensete lasiocarpum, Golden lotus banana, Chinese dwarf banana

Genus

Musa Musa

Variety or Cultivar

M. lasiocarpa is a dwarf, hardy banana plant with a conical trunk and large, grey-green leaves that gives it a 'shuttlecock' outline. It gets globular, yellow, waxy, flowers that can last for several months.

Foliage

Evergreen

Habit

Upright

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Colour

Flower

Brown, Yellow in Summer; Yellow-brown in Autumn

Foliage

Green in All seasons

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How to care

Watch out for

Specific pests

Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs

Diseases

Generally disease-free.

General care

Pruning

No pruning required. Remove spent foliage and cut back in autumn if desired.

Propagation methods

Division, Seed

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Monthly care advice

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Where to grow

Musa lasiocarpa (Chinese yellow banana) will reach a height of 1.5m and a spread of 1m after 10-20 years.

Suggested uses

Architectural, Containers, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical

Cultivation

Plant outdoors in a frost-free area in rich, moist but well-drained soil, in sun or part shade. Plant deep covering clumping rootstock below ground. Protect from wind and over winter. Grow under glass in loam-based compost in full or filtered sunlight.

Soil type

Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)

Soil drainage

Moist but well-drained, Well-drained

Soil pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

Light

Partial Shade, Full Sun

Aspect

South, West

Exposure

Sheltered

UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.

Hardy (H4)

USDA zones

Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7

Defra's Risk register #1

Plant name

Musa lasiocarpa (Chinese yellow banana)

Common pest name

Lance nematode; Nematode; Lance

Scientific pest name

Hoplolaimus spp.

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

2

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Nematode species potentially affecting a wide variety of crops; prohibition of soil likely to mitigate risk substantially; keep under review in light of interceptions or findings should they occur in the EU.

Defra's Risk register #2

Plant name

Musa lasiocarpa (Chinese yellow banana)

Common pest name

Stunt nematode

Scientific pest name

Tylenchorhynchus leviterminalis

Type

Nematode

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

1

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

4

General biosecurity comments

Nematode pest mainly in Asia and Africa; could only potentially affect glasshouse crops in UK but no obvious pathway.

Defra's Risk register #3

Plant name

Musa lasiocarpa (Chinese yellow banana)

Common pest name

Banks glovers; mite

Scientific pest name

Tetranychus gloveri

Type

Mite

Current status in UK

Absent

Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)

3

General biosecurity comments

Limited damage in current area of distribution. Other areas of the EU at higher risk. In UK many hosts but risk depends on likelihood of establishing in protected cultivation.

About this section

Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.

Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here

Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.

Date updated: 7^th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/