Don't know about other M. sikkimensis 'Red Tiger' out there, but mine is by FAR, the slowest-growing banana I have. I'm lucky to get a new leaf every two weeks! By comparison, I get a new leaf every 4-7 days on most every other banana I grow. I haven't "clocked" M. thomsonii, but it is probably my second-slowest one.
I recently received a Musa sikkimensis (the straight species) in a trade, and am hoping it grows a bit faster (ok, a LOT faster). Does anybody grow the different forms side-by-side, and if so, how does 'Red Tiger' compare with the other forms? Thanks!
M. itinerans pseudostem, M. sikkimensis 'Red Tiger' in the background. This is its second year in the ground. The last full leaf unfurled 9 days ago (two Sundays ago), and you can see the newest leaf is poking along.
