{"product_id":"musa-basjoo","title":"Musa basjoo","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMusa basjoo\u003c\/strong\u003e, the \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese banana\u003c\/strong\u003e, is the hardiest banana you can grow in a British garden and the fastest route to a genuinely tropical look outdoors. Native to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, it sends up a stout green pseudostem topped with a fountain of huge, paddle-shaped leaves that can reach two metres long. Few plants deliver this much instant drama, which is exactly why the \u003cstrong\u003ehardy banana\u003c\/strong\u003e has become a staple of jungle borders, courtyard gardens and exotic planting schemes across the UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat sets \u003cstrong\u003eMusa basjoo\u003c\/strong\u003e apart from the tender bananas is its toughness. The clump is root-hardy to around -10C to -12C with a little winter protection, so unlike most of its relatives it can live outdoors year after year rather than being hauled indoors each autumn. In a long, warm summer an established plant may even throw up a curious cream flower spike followed by small green fruit, although these are seedy and ornamental rather than something to eat.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eKey features\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMassive, glossy bright-green leaves for a bold, jungle effect\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe hardiest banana for UK gardens, root-hardy with protection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFast-growing and clump-forming, ideal for exotic and architectural borders\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriking in the ground or in a large container on a sheltered terrace\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eTo get the best from your \u003cstrong\u003eJapanese banana plant\u003c\/strong\u003e, give it full sun in a warm, sheltered spot away from strong winds that tear the foliage. It is hungry and thirsty, so plant into deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil, water freely through the growing season and feed generously for the largest leaves. Mature clumps reach roughly 2.5 to 4 metres tall with a 2 to 3 metre spread, expanding steadily as offsets form around the base. Over winter, wrap the stem with straw or fleece and mulch the crown, or allow it to die back and protect the root, ready to reshoot in spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery \u003cstrong\u003eMusa basjoo UK\u003c\/strong\u003e plant we send out is nursery-grown, well rooted and selected for vigour, so it establishes quickly and rewards you with that unmistakable big-leaf, big-impact display season after season.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GROW TROPICALS","offers":[{"title":"15cm","offer_id":57810282742143,"sku":"MUSABASJ15","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/growtropicals.com\/products\/musa-basjoo","provider":"GrowTropicals","version":"1.0","type":"link"}