Ravenala spp.

traveller's palm

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Hummingbirds Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 10–11

Overview

Ravenala spp., the traveller's palm or traveller's tree, is a genus in the family Strelitziaceae native to Madagascar. Long treated as a single species, R. madagascariensis, it is now split by some botanists into several species. Despite the common name it is not a palm but a giant relative of the banana and bird-of-paradise. Plants form a fan of 10 to 20 long-stalked, paddle-shaped leaves, each blade 8–13 ft (2.5–4 m) long, arranged in one flat plane atop a stout, palm-like trunk that can reach 30–50 ft (9–15 m) tall. The leaf bases collect rainwater, the feature that gave rise to the traveller's name. Boat-shaped bracts hold creamy-white flowers like those of a large bird-of-paradise, followed by woody capsules with seeds wrapped in a bright blue, fleshy aril rare among plants. Ravenala spp. needs a frost-free, humid climate and rich, moist soil, and the broad leaves shred in strong wind, leaving a ragged outline. Outside the tropics it is grown under glass while young.

Native Range

Ravenala spp. is native to Madagascar, where it grows in open clearings, forest margins, and regrowth areas across the humid eastern and northern parts of the island. It is widely planted throughout the tropics as an ornamental.

Suggested Uses

Ravenala spp. is grown as a large specimen in tropical and subtropical gardens, parks, and avenues where its fan can be seen from a distance. It needs room, set well away from buildings and paths, with 15–25 ft (4.5–7.5 m) of clear space. In cooler regions it is grown in large conservatories and glasshouses.

How to Identify

Identify Ravenala spp. by its huge, flat, two-ranked fan of banana-like leaves held on a single upright trunk, like an enormous open hand. The long leaf stalks sheath the trunk and hold water at their bases. White bird-of-paradise-type flowers in tough boat-shaped bracts and seeds with a vivid blue aril confirm it.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height30' - 50'

Width/Spread12' - 20'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Ravenala spp. flowers irregularly through the year in the wet tropics once plants reach mature size, with no single fixed season. The creamy flowers sit within green boat-shaped bracts and are pollinated by lemurs and birds in the wild. Woody seed capsules follow and split to show blue-coated seeds.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

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 sand

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Ravenala spp. grows in full sun to part shade and deep, rich, moist but free-draining soil at a pH of 5.5–7.0. It needs steady warmth and humidity, with growth checked below about 50°F (10°C) and foliage damaged by frost. Young plants take part shade, while mature ones stand in full sun. Shelter from strong wind keeps the leaves from tearing into a tattered fan. Regular watering and feeding through the warm season support its fast, large growth. Propagation is by seed or by removing basal suckers from clumping forms.

Pruning

Ravenala spp. needs only the removal of old, broken, or dead leaves, cut close to the trunk. Spent flower bracts and seed capsules are taken off once they brown. No shaping is needed, as the plant builds its fan naturally.