Musa 'Ever Red' Plants - Outdoor GROW TROPICALS
Red Banana Plant

Musa 'Ever Red'

£16.99
Overwinter under coverSun-lovingEvergreen
Pot size
15cm / 1.5L £16.99

FREE tracked delivery on orders over £60

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Description

Few exotics deliver drama as quickly as Musa 'Ever Red', a strikingly coloured ornamental banana grown for its enormous paddle-shaped leaves washed in deep burgundy, maroon and oxblood red. As one of the darkest selections available, this red banana plant brings instant jungle theatre to a sunny patio, courtyard or conservatory, and it has become a firm favourite with UK gardeners chasing a tropical look without leaving the British Isles.

Why grow Musa 'Ever Red'?

The appeal is all in the foliage. Each lush leaf unfurls flushed with red, intensifying to rich wine tones in strong light, while the pseudostem carries the same warm red blush. Planted as a centrepiece, this red banana tree reads as a living sculpture, and it grows fast, putting on fresh leaves through the summer to reach around 2 to 3 metres in a single season under good conditions.

This is a tender exotic rather than a fully hardy plant, so the simplest approach is to grow it in a generous container. That keeps it portable: stand it out in the warmth from late spring, then move it into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or bright porch from October to overwinter. Give it the brightest, most sheltered position you can, ideally full sun against a south or west facing wall, where the leaf colour develops best and the broad leaves are shielded from wind. Plant into a rich, free-draining loam-based compost with added grit, water freely and feed fortnightly through the growing season, as bananas are both hungry and thirsty. Over winter, ease off watering and let the plant rest somewhere cool but frost-free.

Reaching roughly 2 to 3 metres tall with a 1.5 to 2 metre spread, 'Ever Red' makes a superb feature specimen or the backbone of a hot, exotic planting scheme alongside cannas, colocasias and palms. If you have been searching for a red banana plant uk growers can rely on, this is a standout. Every plant we send out is nursery-grown, carefully selected and established, ready to power away the moment the warmth arrives.

Live Arrival Guarantee

All plants are covered by our 7-day live arrival guarantee. We pack every order in protective, sustainable packaging designed to keep your plants safe in transit, and every plant is checked before it ships. On the rare occasion something is not right on arrival, we will make it good, provided the plant is still in its original nursery pot.

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What to Expect

Seasonal by nature: what to expect

  • Grown outdoors, the way nature intended. Weather-tested and hardened in real UK conditions, so they thrive in your garden. A few marks on the older leaves are normal, the sign of a tough, real plant rather than a flaw.
  • It follows the seasons. Depending on when you order, your plant may arrive cut back, dormant or leafless. That's healthy: dormancy is the ideal time to plant.
  • Posted, not posed. Big leafy plants like bananas and gingers may be trimmed or gently folded to travel safely. It does the plant no harm, and it powers away again in spring.

Not sure what to expect from yours? Dormant, cut-back or weather-marked plants are all perfectly healthy and normal. Read what to expect through the seasons

Delivery & returns

Order by 1pm Monday to Friday for same day dispatch. Every plant travels in protective, plant-safe packaging with tracked delivery.

Changed your mind? See our Return Policy.

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How to care for Red Banana Plant

Plant me in full sun and bring me under cover before the frosts.

In their words

What our customers say

Arrived just like the photos - maybe even fuller. Healthy, well-acclimated, and straight into my collection with no issues.

Emily P.

Flawless leaves, stunning variegation, and clearly cared for by experts. It’s already a talking point in my home office.

James R.

Hard to find rare plants that are pet-safe. Ours arrived in perfect condition and looks amazing without any worry.

Sophie L.
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About Red Banana Plant

Musa 'Ever Red' needs full sun and moist but well-drained soil. It is frost tender and must come under cover for winter.

Good for

Architectural Exotic Borders Pots & Containers

Hardiness

TenderVery hardy

Tender (H2): down to around 1°C. Tolerates cool conditions but not frost; protect or bring in over winter.

Musa 'Ever Red' is a tender ornamental banana (around H2) that will not survive a UK winter outdoors. Grow it in a large pot so it can be stood out for summer and moved into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or porch from October to May. Read moreShow less

Musa 'Ever Red' is a tender ornamental banana (around H2) that will not survive a UK winter outdoors. Grow it in a large pot so it can be stood out for summer and moved into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or porch from October to May.

Position

Full sunSouth-facingWest-facingSheltered
Give it the warmest, brightest, most sheltered spot you have, ideally full sun against a south or west facing wall, where the burgundy leaf colour develops best and the large leaves are protected from wind tearing. Read moreShow less

Give it the warmest, brightest, most sheltered spot you have, ideally full sun against a south or west facing wall, where the burgundy leaf colour develops best and the large leaves are protected from wind tearing.

Soil

LoamSandMoist but well-drainedAcid pHNeutral pH
Plant into a rich, free-draining loam-based compost (such as John Innes No. 3) with added grit; bananas are hungry and thirsty but resent waterlogging, so good drainage is essential. Read moreShow less

Plant into a rich, free-draining loam-based compost (such as John Innes No. 3) with added grit; bananas are hungry and thirsty but resent waterlogging, so good drainage is essential.

Watering

Water generously and feed fortnightly with a high-nitrogen or balanced liquid feed through the growing season to fuel rapid leaf production. Cut watering right back over winter, keeping the rootball barely moist while the plant rests indoors. Read moreShow less

Water generously and feed fortnightly with a high-nitrogen or balanced liquid feed through the growing season to fuel rapid leaf production. Cut watering right back over winter, keeping the rootball barely moist while the plant rests indoors.

Mature size

Height2-3 m
Spread1.5-2 m

Reaches full size in 2-5 years

Growth habit

Clump-forming

Seasonal colour

Foliage

Evergreen (stays evergreen only when kept frost-free over winter)

Pruning

No routine pruning; just remove frost-damaged or tatty leaves. If the top is knocked back it will usually reshoot from the base, so protect the stem to keep height.

Toxicity

No reported toxic effects to humans or pets; sap may stain skin and clothing

Native range

Garden origin (Musa selection)

Family

Musaceae

Also known as

Musa 'Ever Red'

Genus

Musa →
Good to know

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Musa 'Ever Red' hardy enough to leave outside over winter in the UK?

No. This is a tender banana that is damaged by frost, so it should be moved into a frost-free greenhouse, conservatory or bright porch from autumn until late spring. Stand it back outside once the risk of frost has passed.

Where should I position a red banana plant for the best leaf colour?

Give it full sun in the warmest, most sheltered spot you have. Strong light deepens the burgundy and dark red tones, while shelter stops wind shredding the large soft leaves.

How big does Musa 'Ever Red' grow?

In a container in the UK it typically reaches around 2 to 3 metres tall with a spread of 1.5 to 2 metres over a few seasons. Pot size and winter conditions will limit or encourage its ultimate height.

Can I grow this red banana in a pot on a patio?

Yes, it is ideal for a large patio container, which makes it easy to move under cover for winter. Use a rich, free-draining loam-based compost and feed regularly through summer for lush growth.

Is the red banana plant safe around pets?

Ornamental bananas are not considered toxic to cats or dogs, so this is a pet-friendly choice. The sap can stain skin and fabric, so handle cut leaves with a little care.

Does my plant come with a pot?
Your plant will arrive in its nursery grow pot — the plastic pot it's been growing in. We don't include a decorative pot as standard, and there's a good reason for that: it means you get to choose one that fits your space and style, rather than being stuck with something that doesn't suit your home.

It also means you're not paying extra for a pot you might not want. The nursery pot is perfectly fine to keep your plant in for a while, just pop it inside a decorative cover pot or cache pot and you're good to go. When you're ready to repot (usually after a growing season or when roots start poking out the bottom), you can move it into something more permanent with fresh soil.

If you're not sure what size cover pot to go for, check the pot selector tool listed above, you'll want a decorative pot that's a centimetre or two wider than that to give it a comfortable fit.
How big will my plant be when it arrives?
Every plant on our site includes the pot size (e.g. 12cm) and, where possible, an approximate height. That's the most reliable way to set your expectations, photos can sometimes make a plant look larger or smaller than it really is.

If you're thinking "that sounds quite small for the price," here's something worth knowing: younger, smaller plants almost always adapt better to your home than larger ones. They adjust faster to your light and humidity, put out new growth more quickly, and tend to establish stronger root systems long-term. A plant that grows into your space will usually outperform one that was already big when it arrived.

That said, every plant is an individual. The one you receive may vary slightly in height, shape, or fullness compared to the photo, that's the nature of living things, not a quality issue. We select healthy, well-established specimens, and if you ever feel your plant doesn't match what you were expecting, just get in touch and we'll take a look.
What makes your plants different from the supermarket or garden centre?
There's a big difference between a plant that's been sitting under on a retail shelf and one that's been looked after and cared for by people who specialise in exactly this.

Our plants are grown in house or sourced from specialist nurseries, many of them varieties you simply won't find at your local garden centre or supermarket. Before anything leaves us, it's checked over by our horticultural team to make sure it's healthy, well-rooted, and ready to thrive in your home. We're not shifting volume off a pallet, we're choosing plants we'd want to keep ourselves.

When you buy from a supermarket, you get a plant and a generic care label. When you buy from us, you get the knowledge that comes with it, detailed care guidance, a team you can actually contact if something isn't going right, and the confidence that what's arriving has been looked after properly from the moment it was grown to the moment it reaches your door.

We're a specialist nursery first, not a retailer that happens to sell plants. That's the difference, and you'll see it the moment you open the box.
What should I do when my plant arrives?
First things first, unbox it as soon as you can. Plants don't love being in dark boxes any more than you would, and the sooner yours is out and breathing, the better.

Remove all the packaging carefully, give the soil a check with your finger, and water lightly if it feels dry. Then find it a spot with appropriate light, but avoid putting it straight into harsh direct sun or next to a radiator. Think of it like arriving somewhere new after a long journey: it needs a moment to adjust.

It's completely normal for your plant to look a little tired or droopy after transit. This is called transit stress, and most plants bounce back within a week or two. You might see a yellow leaf or some drooping, don't panic, and resist the urge to overwater or start repotting straight away.

Our advice for the first couple of weeks: leave it in its nursery pot, water it only when the top layer of soil feels dry, and let it acclimatise to your home's light, temperature, and humidity. Once it's settled in and showing signs of new growth, you can think about repotting or moving it to its permanent spot.

Every plant we sell comes with a care guide on the product page so you'll know exactly what it needs going forward. And if anything doesn't look right, get in touch with our team, we're always happy to help.
Will my plant survive being shipped?
Yes! and we go to serious lengths to make sure of it. Every plant is hand-packed by our team with protective wrapping and secure, custom-designed boxes to keep it stable and safe in transit. We've shipped hundreds of thousands of plants across the UK and our packaging methods have been refined over years to handle the bumps and jolts of delivery.

During colder months, we monitor weather forecasts and offer heat packs where needed to protect against frost. In extreme conditions, we may hold your order for a day or two rather than risk sending it out, we'd rather you wait an extra day than receive a stressed plant.

That said, plants are living things, and the occasional transit wobble can happen. If your plant arrives damaged or isn't in the condition you'd expect, just get in touch within 48 hours with a photo, and we'll make it right, whether that's a replacement or a full refund. No fuss.

The short version: we treat every box like it's going to someone who really cares about what's inside, because it is.
Meet the family

Everything about Musa

Banana plant care comes down to light, warmth, and generous watering. Here is how to grow Musa well as a fast, leafy houseplant in the UK.

More about Musa care
Musa Care Guide
Why Grow Tropicals

Plants delivered the way they deserve

Packaged with Care

Packaged with Care

Every order is hand-packed in eco-friendly, protective packaging - refined through thousands of deliveries to ensure your plant arrives healthy, hydrated, and looking its best.

Backed by our Live Arrival Guarantee.

Perfect for Gifting

Perfect for Gifting

From rare collector’s pieces to easy-care favourites, our plants arrive fully potted and ready to enjoy. Add a personalised note at checkout for a thoughtful finishing touch.

Delivered fresh, beautiful, and gift-ready.

Sustainability at Heart

Sustainability at Heart

All plants are ethically sourced from trusted growers, never wild-collected. Every order ships carbon-neutral in minimal-waste packaging.

Good for your home - and the planet.

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Musa 'Ever Red'
£16.99