Musella lasiocarpa - Golden Lotus Banana seeds

Musa lasiocarpa, more precisely Musella lasiocarpa is also known as the Chinese dwarf banana, golden lotus or Yunnan banana, referring to its habit and its magnificent golden yellow inflorescence. This beautiful perennial plant is very similar to the banana tree, its close relative. It is distinguished by its dwarf habit and very original flowering, which can appear from the second year after sowing and last several months. This relatively hardy plant produces numerous offshoots, forming over time beautiful groups with opulent foliage, resistant to wind. It is easily grown in large containers, indoors or outdoors. It likes fertile, fresh, but drained soil and enjoys the sun or half-shade.

Musella lasiocarpa is a plant belonging to the Musaceae family, originally found in the Yunnan province of China and Vietnam. It can grow to an altitude of 2,500 m (8 ft 2 in) and is quite hardy, but its minimum threshold for cultivation is yet to be assessed. Due to its rarity in the wild, the plant's survival depends on cultivation. It is a semelparous perennial plant and has a tuberous rootstock. This small banana tree forms numerous offshoots at the base and can reach a height of 1.50 to 1.80m (4 ft 11 to 5 ft 11 in) in our climate. The plant is remarkable for its ornamental qualities, hardiness, and rapid growth. A seed sown in the spring can grow into a 1.50 m (4 ft 11 in) plant within a summer. The leaves of the plant are quite large, more fibrous and solid than those of banana trees, and are bluish-green. Flowering usually occurs 2 to 4 years after sowing and lasts 6 months to a year. The bud then produces a dense spike of thick yellow bracts, resembling a lotus flower carried by a thick stem. Small flowers develop at the base of the bracts, and fertilised flowers give rise to small fruits containing seeds that germinate easily when fresh. The plant is evergreen in a mild climate and quite sturdy.

Musa lasiocarpa is a plant that can be used in many ways. You can plant it in flower beds alone or with other plants or grow it in containers or in the ground. Depending on the climate, this plant can grow well in all regions, with or without protection. It can be paired with other plants like orange cannas or variegated foliage and can be used as a decoration for a terrace when planted in a large container. It can be stored in a cold greenhouse in a bright location in winter. It is also a great addition to greenhouse plants like oleanders, citrus trees, or the Strelitzia Reginae.