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Musa × paradisiaca

plantain

Musaceae

Garden origin; parent species from Southeast Asia and the western Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunFull Sun

WaterHigh

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Musa x paradisiaca is a large herbaceous perennial reaching 10–25 feet (3–7.5 m) tall, a hybrid between Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana. What looks like a trunk is a pseudostem formed by the tightly rolled bases of the leaves; the true stem is underground. Broad, paddle-shaped leaves 5–9 feet (1.5–2.7 m) long and 1–2 feet (30–60 cm) wide unfurl from the center and tear into segments along the veins in wind. A drooping flower spike emerges from the top, bearing rows of small flowers within purple bracts, followed by hands of elongated fruit. The starchy-fruited forms are called plantains and are cooked, while sweeter forms are eaten raw as bananas. Each pseudostem flowers once, fruits, then dies, replaced by suckers from the base. The plant needs heat and steady moisture and is damaged by frost, with foliage killed below about 32°F (0°C) and the corm below about 22°F (−6°C). Wind shreds the large leaves and can topple plants in exposed sites.

Native Range

Musa x paradisiaca is a cultivated hybrid of ancient garden origin, derived from two wild banana species native to Southeast Asia and the western Pacific. It has no wild range of its own and is propagated from suckers and corm divisions. It is grown throughout the tropics and subtropics for food.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a fruit crop and as a bold-foliage plant in tropical and subtropical gardens, spaced 8–12 feet (2.4–3.7 m) apart. In cooler regions it is used as a fast-growing container or summer accent for its large leaves. The pseudostem, leaves, and fruit are used in cooking and food wrapping in many cuisines.

How to Identify

A single tall pseudostem of rolled leaf bases, topped by a crown of broad paddle-shaped leaves, identifies the bananas and plantains. A drooping spike of purple bracts and developing fruit hangs from mature plants. The larger, more angular fruit and starchier flesh of plantain forms separate them from dessert bananas.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height10' - 25'

Width/Spread6' - 12'

Reaches mature size in approximately 2 years

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Flowering is not seasonal but follows the maturing of each pseudostem, often 10–15 months after a sucker emerges in warm climates. A drooping spike pushes out from the top, opening rows of tubular flowers shielded by peeling purple bracts. Female flowers near the base develop into fruit without pollination. The whole process from flower spike to ripe fruit takes three to six months.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

cream within purple bracts

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

1-2 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Full sun, heat, and deep, fertile, well-drained soil rich in organic matter at pH 5.5–7.0 suit Musa x paradisiaca. The plant is a heavy feeder and drinker, needing steady moisture and regular feeding through the growing season, though standing water rots the corm. It is hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9–11, and in cooler zones the corm is grown in containers or lifted and stored over winter. A sheltered position reduces wind damage to the leaves. Suckers are thinned to one or two per clump so the main stem can fruit. Mulch and a winter cover help the corm survive where light frost occurs.

Pruning

Old leaves are cut off as they brown and hang against the pseudostem. After a stem fruits, it is cut to the ground, since it will not fruit again, making room for the next sucker. Removing extra suckers concentrates growth into one or two stems.