Cheesman's banana (Musa cheesmanii) | seeds, 10 pcs.

RARE

• Latin name: Musa cheesmanii
• Danish names: Cheesmans banan
• English names: Cheesman's banana

Musa cheesmanii is a rare wild banana species from Papua New Guinea, where it grows in tropical mountain forests with high humidity and abundant rainfall. The species is named after the British botanist Evelyn Cheesman, who contributed significantly to the exploration of the region's flora.

The plant develops large, lush leaves and an impressive tropical appearance, making it attractive to collectors of rare banana species. In the wild, it can grow several meters tall and form sturdy pseudostems surrounded by characteristic banana leaves.

Musa cheesmanii has been of great botanical significance as it is part of the genetic background for several modern banana varieties. At the same time, it is of interest to collectors because it remains relatively rare in cultivation compared to species such as Musa basjoo, Musa sikkimensis, and Musa velutina.

Cultivation and requirements

Musa cheesmanii thrives best in full sun to light partial shade and prefers:

• Nutrient-rich and well-drained soil
• Consistent moisture during the growing season
• High humidity
• Warm and sheltered conditions

A nutrient-rich tropical potting soil is ideal for cultivation. For optimal growth, it is advantageous to use an organic fertilizer throughout the growing season, as banana plants are generally nutrient-demanding.

The species is not frost-tolerant and in Denmark is best grown as a container plant, greenhouse plant, or winter garden plant. The temperature should preferably be kept above 15 °C, and growth is most active at temperatures above 20 °C.

Like many other bananas, the plant appreciates plenty of water during the growing season, but the soil must still be well-drained to avoid rot.

Cultivation from seeds

Seeds of Musa cheesmanii have a hard seed coat and germinate best under warm conditions.

• Soak the seeds in lukewarm water for 24–48 hours before sowing
• Sow in a well-drained soil mixture
• Maintain a temperature of 25–30 °C
• Keep the soil consistently moist, but not wet

Germination can occur within a few weeks, but it is not unusual for the process to take several months. Patience is therefore important when growing wild banana species.

The young plants grow relatively quickly under good conditions and develop the characteristic banana leaves early on.

Utility and collector value

Musa cheesmanii is primarily grown as an ornamental and collector's plant. Its botanical history and rarity make it particularly attractive to enthusiasts of bananas and tropical plants.

For collectors of wild Musa species, it is an exciting addition to species such as Musa sikkimensis, Musa itinerans, Musa velutina, and Ensete glaucum. You can view our entire collection of banana seeds here.

Although the fruits contain many seeds and are not grown for consumption, the plant provides an impressive tropical look and the opportunity to grow an important part of the banana's evolutionary history.

Musa cheesmanii is an obvious choice for the plant enthusiast who wants to grow a rare and botanically interesting banana plant from scratch – a species with tropical character, an exciting history, and high collector value.