Eric-Orlando,FL

Our Musa xishuangbannaensis is getting ready to flower. I noticed today it is sending up the flag leaf. This was grown from seed from Nature Products labeled as Musa spec. nova, back in 2005 and was planted out in July 2005. The original stem is the one flowering and is about 15ft tall. It has sent out about 10 suckers, anywhere from 3-20 feet from the original stem. The other stems are 10-15ft tall. I will get photos as the inflorescence emerges. Hopefully it has one like that is displayed on their website;

http://natureproducts.net/Forest_Pro.../Musa_nov.html

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

bigdog

Very cool, Eric, although I expected it to be much taller than 15 feet! Have yours shown any problems handling the heat/sun? Mine sent three leaves in a row out that promptly browned on the edges (a good bit actually)when they unfurled. The pseudostem also started seemingly "falling apart," although it's really not in any danger of actually doing so. The last four leaves that came off the pseudostem were still very green with not even a litle bit of yellowing when they fell off. It's a fast grower in my yard. I know yours are in quite a bit of shade, right? Wonder if that's my problem...

Thanks,

Frank

Eric-Orlando,FL

They get filtered shade from a big Tabebuia impetiginosa. I thought it would get taller too, but maybe since this is the first one to flower. A couple other offshoots are as tall but don't look to be getting ready to flower so maybe these will be taller before they do.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

tropicalkid

Any flower photos yet ???

Eric-Orlando,FL

Here is the inflorescence just emerging;

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510/...04443631789/71

Here is a photo of the clump, several plants are outside the photo;

http://new.photos.yahoo.com/leu4510/...04443631793/29

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

tropicalkid

Hey Eric:

Will you be looking to sell pups after you have a considerable amount of them?

Thanks,
Carlos(tropicalkid in NC)

Eric-Orlando,FL

Once they start running where we don't want them, I will pot them up to sell/distribute. I just took a bunch of M. tinerans var. itinerans I grew from seeds to a chimpanzee rescue/habitat along with some others. They want to use them for browse as I was told the chimps love to chew, eat, play, and nest with banana leaves. These are the easiest banana to grow and more tolerant of drought and nematodes here. Also, they make a thick clump quick so I figured this would be the best one for their needs. I would love to take them some Musa itinerans var. xishuangbannaensis since it is going to be a vigorous spreader.

Here at Leu Gardens, something is spreading the seed of the var. itinerans and it is almost weedy as it sprouts wild in different parts of the garden.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a