Commonly referred to as hardy or Japanese banana, Musa basjoo is said to have originated from the Sichuan province of China.
But that’s not all!
It often shocks gardeners that, even though Musa basjoo grows quickly to the size of a small tree, when the first frosts set in, its foliage dies back. Best thing to do is wrap and protect overwinter, or if you don’t want to worry about that – look at the Musa basjoo as a huge herbaceous perennial that produces new growth in spring and dies back in winter, all throughout the UK climate.

Musa Basjoo in July in the UK
This plant will quickly grow in the warm temperatures of spring to produce exotic and large leaves. But, to sustain this growth, it needs regular feeding and watering. Also, it looks dazzling in sub-tropical borders with plants like persicarias, hardy Schefflera, and hedychiums.
This brings us to the main point of why we’re here, which is to provide an answer to the question “what to plant with Musa basjoo?”
IN THIS ARTICLE
What Should I Plant with Musa Basjoo?
Musa Basjoo does need space…so if you’re growing Musa Basjoo, Musa Sikkimensis or Musella lasiocarpa be aware they grow so fast through the summer that your underplants will be out of room before you know it. Another thing to not forget that if you are planning to wrap your Musa Basjoo through the winter then you won’t want anything around the base of the stems otherwise you could damage them when wrapping.
Personally Musa Basjoo is not something I underplant too closely, I do like to give the stems room to grow and pup, and to be honest I do like the look of the pseudostems on their own! I do still plant underneath a couple of feet back, mostly bushes of purple Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ and soft ferns.
Other great banana trees or banana plants to grow and buy in the UK are of course the Musa Basjoo, Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ – Red Abyssinian Ethiopian banana, Musa lasiocarpa, Musa Sikkimensis and Musa Acuminata Dwarf Cavendish.
- How to overwinter banana plants through the winter months
- GROW GUIDE: How to grow banana plants
- What Should I Plant with Musa Basjoo?
- Can you grow a banana plant indoors?
- Can you grow banana fruit in a UK garden?
Plants to grow alongside and with Musa Basjoo Banana Plants
Strelitzia reginae (Birds of Paradise)
Growing to a large width and providing a boost to ground cover and pollination makes Birds of Paradise a great underplant for Musa basjoo. Even more, they are a bit flexible with their soil pH – they need a pH range between 5.5 and 7.5.
With Birds of paradise, you need to ensure that there’s enough space from other plants because they usually have roots balls that get between 1-2 feet wide. Also, when grown as an underplant with Musa basjoo, ensure that enough sunlight reaches them because they need over 6 hours of sunlight a day.
Hibiscus (Roselle)
Native to tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate regions, these flowering plants are easy to grow as underplants for Musa basjoo.
Though there are multiple varieties of hibiscus – from small trees to woody shrubs and small plants – the most popular is roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa). Roselle is well-known for its flowers which are used in making a tart and red herbal tea, commonly known as carcade.
Asides from enhancing the beauty of your garden, when planted with Musa basjoo, roselle helps attract a large number of pollinators. Even more, if cared for properly, this plant can grow up to 8 feet, which also makes it a good option for underplanting with Musa basjoo.
Hedychium coccineum “Tara”
With a frost-hardy but exotic look, Hedychium coccineum “Tara” adds that touch of drama to your garden. Its strap-like and large leaves appear from June. This is followed by bright orange anthers, showy orange-red blooms with spidery pink filaments, and racemes of fragrant. But, you should know that the foliage and flowers die in winter.

Hedychium densiflorum
To get great results, you can grow Hedychium coccineum “Tara” in a warm sheltered and partially shaded spot, and in humus-rich soil. Additionally, even though it’s hardy, you can apply a thick mulch around its base to protect the crown in autumn.
Some other options for planting around Musa Basjoo
What Next?
Well, now you have an idea of what you should underplant with Musa basjoo. Choose the option that suits you best, then sit back and take in the view!
Last Modified: September 3, 2022