Red Banana Tree

Red Banana Tree from Sumatra

Musa sumatrana 'Rojo'
(Variegated Blood Banana)

This red banana tree hails from Sumatra and belongs to the genus Musa in the family Musaceae. It is consider one of the most striking ornamental banana plants and will display strikingly red and green colours. The leaves are of a burgundy shade and looks as though they had been stained with wine. This red banana tree can be grown indoors as well as outdoors and will do well in containers as well as planted directly in the soil. If you grow it indoors, you must keep in mind that like most other bananas, this plant requires large amounts of strong light to do well. It should be provided with full sun or sun/partial shade. The foliage is long, wide and variegated (the abovementioned wine-speckling) and red banana trees are often planted in masses to create an even more striking effect.

Musa sumatrana 'Rojo' can reach a height of 8-10 ft. (2.4-3 m) and the recommended spacing is 6-8 ft. (1.8-2.4 m). The soil should have a pH-value in the 6.5-7.5 range (around neutral) and the plant must be watered regularly. It is however important to avoid over watering it – it only has average water needs.
This red banana tree produces flowers that can be orange, red-orange or yellow-orange and the bananas will actually contain small seeds. The flowers are found in big terminal spikes that can appear at anytime of the year in mature plants. Most people dislike the taste of the orange bananas (and the presence of seeds) and Musa sumatrana 'Rojo' is therefore normally grown as an ornamental plant; not in order to produce edible fruit. Unlike commonly devoured bananas such as the ‘Cavendish’ cultivar, Musa sumatrana 'Rojo' can be grown from seeds. Wait until the banana has ripened before you open it up, remove the seeds and gently clean them. The seeds do not store well as should therefore be planted as soon as possible. You can germinate them on a damp paper towel or sow them directly in well-drained sowing-soil. Musa sumatrana 'Rojo' can also be propagated by rhizome division.

Hardiness:
USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2° C (10° F)
USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4° C (15° F)
USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6° C (20° F)
USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8° C (25° F)
USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1° C (30° F)
USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7° C (35° F)
USDA Zone 11: above 4.5° C (40° F)