Musella Lasiocarpa

Probably the most interesting looking plant you ever seen, being a dwarfing banana plant, it blooms resembles a giant lotus flower that grows on the stem and lasted from several months to 2 years! Known as Chinese Mountain Banana or the Golden Lotus Banana, it is purely ornamental and does not produce edible fruit, though mature plants (2-3 years) make an unexpected accent for your sunroom with big colourful flowers and handsome leaves.

The underground stem (rhizome) is eaten as a vegetable, it flower is used for honey ad sometime fermented for wine making, the leaves are highly medicinal. 

The Golden Lotus banana is cold and wind tolerant as it is native to living 7500 feet of elevation in the Chinese mountains of Yunnan province. The plant is happy to be the centre of attention in your beautiful garden and happily grow in a large pot and reside as an indoor plant. A rare beauty you wont see this everyday, only a handful of rare plant collectors we knew have this Golden Lotus Banana in New Zealand, so here is your chance. One off offer only.

Plant Care

• Watering: Maintain consistent moisture, watering deeply especially in warmer months. Reduce watering in cooler months.
• Temperature: Best between 26°C and 30°C. Bananas are not frost-tolerant and require protection or placement in warm climates.
• Light: Full sun is ideal.
• Fertilising: Use a high-nitrogen fertilizer such as 30-10-10 monthly during the growing season to support vigorous leaf growth. Once the plant starts flowering, switch to a high-potassium fertilizer like 15-5-30 to support fruit development.
• Pruning: Regularly remove dead leaves and spent fruit stalks. Cut back the main fruiting stem after harvest to encourage new growth.
• Mulching: Apply heavy mulch to retain soil moisture, provide nutrients, and suppress weeds.
• Pest Control: Look out for pests such as aphids, spider mites, and nematodes. Use eco-friendly pesticides if necessary.
• Flowering and Fruiting: Each pseudostem will fruit once. Fruit typically matures in about 3 to 8 months, depending on conditions and variety.
• Potting: Suitable for large containers, but requires ample space and meticulous care to manage growth and ensure sufficient nutrients.