Musa cheesmani

 

Cheesman Banana

 

One strong and large wild banana from the section Musa from northeastern India and closely related to Musa sikkimensis, and grows under similar situation well. The pseudotrunks are dense and bushy, deep reddish-brown. The species shall have white flowers. The leaf is upside green, with a pale rib and grey on the underside, with one purpurish brown rib.

 

Although Musa cheesmani was already described one half century ago, it was only introducted in 2004 by Tobias Spanner as seed to Europe. Until now the unusually attractive and color rich banana was not cultivated yet. Ist cold hardiness has proved after first outdoor wintering trials in Germany as not suffcient, this species is less hardy than Musa basjoo and sikkimensis. Unless they could overwinter only with heated winter protection in Germany outdoors or dig up every northern fall to overwinter frostfree and plant out in northern spring again. In Brazil it seems to be unknown yet, but we managed to get seed, our plants were grown from seed by Colecionando Frutas. One cross with Musa basjoo might improve the cold hardiness, if it does work.