It’s not very often that gardeners find large plants that can be placed indoors and outdoors. For homeowners looking for standout decor, a banana plant is a stylish and striking option.
Also known as a Carethe Musa oriental dwarf, this tropical plant can be kept indoors and outdoors on patios in the summer (when warm), according to its care instructions. It originates from Southeast Asia and Australia, so it requires warmth and sunlight to thrive.
It is classed as a slow-growing houseplant, creating thick leaves on a sturdy rootstock, as it gets bigger and bigger. Shoppers can buy a set of four banana plants from Yimbly for £36.95.
Yimbly, is an online marketplace owned by the Express’s parent company Reach Plc, and shipping on a customer’s first order is free. The set of four plants is from a popular gardening brand called Plant In a Box.
According to Yimbly, banana plants are ‘extremely popular’ and can be found in ‘almost every interior magazine’. The plants have a height of 25-40cm upon delivery (measured including the nursery pot).
Shoppers can also find the Plant In a Box set of four on Amazon (also £36.95), where it says the plants can ‘grow beautiful, big leaves.’ Here, hopeful buyers can also find a list of reviews and ratings from owners.
One pleased buyer said: “I have literally just taken these out of the box and put them in plant pot holders. They are really healthy and strong with loads of new growth.
“Really happy with them. Fingers crossed, I can keep them looking beautiful.”
However, another customer was unhappy with the delivery of the plants, writing: “Arrived broken unfortunately.”
Banana plants like a lot of warmth, 13°c is the minimum temperature. In winter, the plant can stand a little cooler, so give a little less water.
In summer, it can be placed outside on the terrace, as long as it is not too cold. However, the plant definitely cannot tolerate frost, so it is advised to bring it inside in time.
For first-time gardeners, investing in a bundle of plants can be both time and money-saving. Over at YouGarden, there’s a Houseplant Collection with Pots (£39.99 for a set of three), which includes a Chaemaedorea elegans, a Dracaena marginata and a Fiscus elastica.
The gardening website describes the three varieties as ‘reliable performers’, and says they give ‘stunning displays for many years to come’. The bundle would also make a nice housewarming gift for a loved one.
Elsewhere, B&Q also sells a large variety of indoor houseplants. In keeping with the tropical theme, this large plant, called a Livistona Palm, is £45. It is 50-60cm in height (including the pot), and is recognised by its elegant and fan-shaped leaves.
Back to the Plant In a Box banana plant bundle, another Amazon reviewer added: “Arrived on time. Absolutely amazing health. The size was amazing. Quality and appearance were on top. Plant health was perfect.”
An additional buyer concluded simply: “Beautiful plants.”
