Musa Sikkimensis "Ever Red"

 What a fun plant to grow so far! Musa Sikkimensis is red when young and then turns all green. This is a "hardy banana" species which was at one time considered as cold hardy as Musa Basjoo, but in reality is probably a solid zone 8 banana plant or zone 7 in a warm climate or with mulch.

This is my oldest, a purchase from Plant Delights Nursery in June 2022. 

Anyway there are TWO cultiars. "Ever Red" is a new cultivar that is much redder than my large Musa Sikkimensis "Red Tiger" ever was & it seems to pup easier too! Here's how it's grown at my parents house. 

 

May 16, 2025

Musa Ever Red July 17, 2025

For a comparison, here's Red Tiger from June 2023

Banana July Update

 It's the middle of the month and you know what that means? Another banana update! 

Here they are in Order 

Musa Sikkimensis - 3 new leaves!

Ensete Maurelli - maybe 5 new leaves this month

Musella Lasciocarpa - It had 2 tiny leaves last month. Now it has grown 3 larger ones

Musa Velutina - it grew 4 or 5 new leaves this month!

Musa Zebrina - it only grew 1 leaf from May to June, but has EXPLODED since! Each stem grew 2 or 3 nice large leaves

Ae Ae grew 3 new leaves! I am so impressed!

Musa itinerans var. xishuangbannaensis aka

Mekong Giant has LEAPED! At least 5 new leaves in the past month

Ensete Giletii has also grown 3-4 leaves

Musa Basjoo could the the winner of the growing competition. I couldnt count but I wouldnt be surprised it it was 5-6 per stem.

An update on my indoor plants

 

In less than a month they'll be outside! I can't wait! 

My Plumeria "California Sunset" is blooming beautifully!

Hi Joey Palm

Musa Ae Ae looking good along with Licuala grandis

My Palm Trees

I bought a Triangle Palm and Coconut Palm for just 25 dollars. What a bargain! 

I grow a lot of tropical palms. Here are a few! 

Rhapis excelsa, Chambeyronia macrocarpa (Flamethrower palm)

& adondila

Joey palm (Johannesteijsmannia altifrons)

old man palm (Coccothrinax crinita)

Flamethrower with Gaussia princeps. Also my flax lily and false agave! 

Bismarkia

Not a true palm, but a very pretty plant! Carludovica palmata aka Panama Hat Palm

Chamadorea metalica - aka Metal palm!

chamaedorea seifrizii

Caryota (have to check the species!)

Queen palm & Areca 

These palms survive outside for some or most of the winter! 

Chamadorea microspadix 

Chamaerops humilis 'Cerifera'

First year with my mule palm. Lots of Pindo in the DNA here! 

Windmill palms! 

Farfugium and Fatsia looking good too!

Another angle

 

Peeking in is the Yucca Gloriosa!

With Pink China Elephant Ear Colocasia 

Wagnerianus 

Back to more hardy palms!

Needle Palm (peeping in is the Trachycarpus latisecus 

Trachycarpus Latisceus 

- Cycas x panzhioluta

Cycas revoluta with my meyer lemon

Another angle

 Livistona chinensis - Chinese fan palm 

Another angle

Sabal Minor

Close up 

My Musa Basjoo living its best life. 


Thanks for looking! Forgot to take a picture of the Washingtonia filifera seedlngs, Licuala grandis, Sabal minor Arkansas seedling, and and my variegated Rhapis. But most of my palms on Long Island are accounted for here!

Here are the Staten Island palms!

Trachycarpus fortunei -Windmill Palm

Sabal Minor

Adondila Christmas Palm

Bottle Palm

Mediterranean Fan Palm