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Tabernaemontana pandacaqui

banana bush

Apocynaceae

Northern Australia, South-East Asia, and the Pacific

Attracts Pollinators Deer Resistant Fragrant (moderate)Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 10–12

Overview

Tabernaemontana pandacaqui is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the family Apocynaceae, commonly 6-13 feet (2-4 m) tall and occasionally taller, with a rounded, multi-stemmed crown and smooth grey bark. All parts exude a milky white latex when cut. Leaves are opposite, glossy, elliptic to oblong, 2-6 inches (5-15 cm) long, with prominent lateral veins. White flowers about 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across have five petals twisted into a pinwheel shape and open from yellow-tinged buds; they are fragrant, particularly in the evening, and appear in clusters through the warmer months. Flowers are followed by paired, curved, orange to yellow fruit 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) long that split to reveal seeds in red pulp; the curved paired pods resemble small bananas. Growth is moderate in warm, frost-free conditions. The latex stains and irritates skin, and all parts are toxic if eaten. The species is damaged by frost and grows poorly in cold or exposed sites.

Native Range

Native to northern Australia, South-East Asia, and the Pacific islands. In Australia it occurs in coastal Queensland in rainforest, vine thickets, and forest margins, on a range of soils in warm, humid, frost-free areas.

Suggested Uses

Planted in tropical and subtropical gardens as a flowering shrub, informal screen, or tubbed specimen, spaced 4-6 feet (1.2-1.8 m) apart. Grown in containers of at least 15 gallons (57 L) and moved under cover in frost-prone areas. Not suited to cold or exposed sites.

How to Identify

Identified by opposite glossy leaves and milky latex that flows from any cut surface. White pinwheel-shaped flowers 0.8-1.2 inches (2-3 cm) across open from yellow-tinged buds and carry an evening fragrance. The paired, curved orange-yellow fruit splitting to show seeds in red pulp is characteristic. The latex and pinwheel flowers place it in Tabernaemontana spp. within the family Apocynaceae.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6' - 13'

Width/Spread5' - 10'

Reaches mature size in approximately 5 years

Colors

Flower Colors

white

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

Flowers through spring and summer in warm climates (mainly October to March in its native range), with scattered flowering at other times in frost-free areas. Individual flowers last a few days, and clusters open in succession over several weeks. Fragrance is strongest in the evening.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

Glossy dark green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 4-8 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

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

3-5 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Water regularly during establishment and through dry periods, as the species grows in humid, reliably moist conditions. Plants grow in full sun to part shade in fertile, well-drained soils with added organic matter. Growth slows and foliage yellows in cold or waterlogged soils. The species is frost-sensitive and is damaged below about 40 F (4 C). All parts contain toxic latex that irritates skin and is poisonous if ingested. Few serious pests occur, though mealybugs and scale may colonise stems in dry indoor conditions.

Pruning

Prune after the main flowering flush to shape the shrub and maintain density, cutting stems back by up to one-third. Tip-pruning of young plants encourages branching. Cut surfaces release milky latex that stains skin and clothing.

Pruning Schedule

fall