Musa

A plant native to Japan, with a branched stem that is green at first, then light brown. The leaves are curved, elongated, and can reach up to 3 meters in length, bright green in color; they may dry out during very harsh winters but quickly regrow in spring. The variety Musa ensete “Maurelli” has a single stem and green-reddish leaves. It blooms in summer with clusters of yellow-white flowers wrapped in pink-red bracts. It fruits only in its natural habitat or in a greenhouse, producing bananas. If its base is protected with mulch, it can survive even in the plains of Northern Italy. It is used in gardens to give an exotic touch.