Golden Lotus Banana - Musella lasiocarpa

[epiphyte]

I recently purchased a relatively rare Golden Lotus Banana (Musella lasiocarpa) in a large tree box with numerous side pups.  I plan on dividing the plant and am offering the side pups for sale, the smaller pups (1-2ft) for $20/ea and the larger pups (2-3ft) for $40/ea (or maybe for similarly rare tropical plants).  I've visited quite a few nurseries and this is the first time I've ever found it for sale (other than online).  It was really way too expensive for me so I could only justify the purchase by promising myself that I'd divide it and try and sell the divisions.  I'm located in Glendale, CA (just outside Los Angeles) and you can send me a PM or e-mail if you're interested (pickup only).

Here are a few photos that I took of a Golden Lotus Banana that I saw at the LA Arboretum.

[metalfan]

Are those still rare in California?

They are extremely common here. The size plant you describe sells locally for about $40.

Be very careful when you divide this plant, the pups are held extremely close to the mother plant and are often difficult to divide without slicing off the base and roots.

[junglegalfla]

Common here in central FL too but cool none the less. That said,

I wanted to give some pups to a friend but I've killed every one I've tried to separate from mom so far. I've all but given up after 15+ deaths . Good luck!

[epiphyte]

Yeah, not quite sure why it's not more common here... I've known about this plant for years and was tempted several times to purchase one online but never really got around to it.  

The plant I have has two mother plants at the end of their blooming period so the pups are fairly large.  It also helps that the plant is in a box so I don't have to worry about digging it up.  Most likely if the pups do not have well developed root systems I'll include some of the mother plant's root system when I cut the pup free.  Basically I cut the mother's trunk down to a foot in height and then slice it like a pie so that each pup has its fair share of roots.  This "sacrifice the dying mother to save her children" technique has worked well when I've divided other bananas so hopefully this Musella won't turn out to be an exception.

It will definitely be at least a half a day project though.  Thanks for the words of caution and wish me luck!

[bahia]

Not really rare here in California either, as there are several major wholesale growers that ship all over the state who grow this in both one gallon and five gallon sizes.  Monterey Bay Nursery in Watsonville is among them.  I have found this fairly easy to divide once the pups get some size, and have done it successfully with several plants, with no losses.  This would have been rare if you had made this offer about 5 years ago, before it become so available here in northern California.