Family: Musaceae
Scientific name: Musa ingens
Common name: Giant Highland Banana
Origin: New Guinea

The Giant Highland Banana is the largest banana species and thereby also the largest herbaceous plant in the world. It is a very rare species that only grows in the mountain forests of the island of New Guinea at altitudes of 1200-1800 meters. The stem, consisting of collapsed leaves, can reach a circumference of 2 meters and a height of 15 meters. Add to that the 5 meter long leaves and the result is a huge banana of up to 20 meters in height. After flowering, the trusses form, sometimes containing up to 300 bananas, each 25-30 cm long. The weight of a banana truss can reach 60 KG. 

Because the species originally grows in mountain forests, it is suitable for growing as an indoor plant. A temperature of 18-25 degrees Celsius is optimal. The size remains limited and will ultimately depend on the size of the pot. It is advisable to water the leaves regularly . Furthermore you can water the plant as soon as the soil is dry. In summer it is possible to put the plant outside in a sheltered place, but ultimately the species grows better at a constant temperature inside the house.  Young plants are best raised in a bright location without direct sunlight and older plants can tolerate direct sunlight. 

Sowing directions: Sow seeds in seed and cutting soil or in a bag of Spaghnum moss. Keep the soil constantly slightly moist and let it germinate at 22-30degC. If germination does not occur within a few weeks, you can remove the seeds from the soil and briefly drench them with hot water. It also seems to help in that case to mix some wood ash through the soil to mimic a forest fire. The seeds can germinate, as long as they are hard. 

Sowing time: Whole year
Difficulty: Intermediate
Minimum temperature: 5 degrees Celsius