Musa sikkimensis ‘Red Tiger’, also known as Red Tiger banana, Darjeeling banana ‘Red Tiger’ or Bengal Tiger, is a graceful, hardy cultivar of the Darjeeling banana with striking red stripes and spots on the leaves.

Origin

• Derived from Musa sikkimensis, which occurs naturally in the eastern Himalayas.
• Grows in subtropical to temperate mountainous regions at about 1000–2000 meters altitude, with monsoon rains, mild winters, and sometimes snow.
• The cultivar ‘Red Tiger’ is a selected form with more intense red leaf markings; Relatively newly discovered and distributed by plant collectors for better color and ornamental value.

Care

• Grows as an upright, clod-forming plant to about 3–4 metres high and 2–3 metres wide; large, paddle-shaped leaves with dark green and purple-red stripes/spots.
• Prefers full sun to light partial shade; Sheltered location from strong winds (leaves tear easily).
• Plant in rich, moisture-retaining but well-drained soil (humus-rich, nutritious); add compost or old manure; pH neutral to slightly acidic.
• Watering: regular and abundant in growing season (spring/summer), keeping soil consistently moist; moderate in winter; drought-tolerant if established, but not allowed to dry out.
• Temperature/winter hardiness: very hardy for a banana; roots down to -14/-16 °C (sometimes lower with mulch); Above ground dies in frost, but often recovers from the rhizome; In colder areas (up to zone 7–8), protect with a thick layer of mulch (straw, leaves, fleece), cut off the pseudo-stem and cover.
• Fertilization: a lot of food in the growing season (high potassium fertilizer for bananas/tropical plants); organic manure (horse manure, cow manure pellets) in spring; Do not over-fertilize.

Usage

• Mainly ornamental plant (ornamental): grown for exotic appearance, large leaves with dramatic red stripes/spots; Ideal as an accent in tropical borders, exotic gardens, patios or pots.
• Attracts attention in jungle- or tropical-themed gardens; Beautiful in combination with other hardy exotics.
• Fruits: sometimes produces small, seed-rich bananas (not tasty, inedible due to hard seeds).