Musa acuminata (Banana)
Botanical name: Musa acuminata
Common names: Banana, Cavendish Banana
Family: Musaceae
Origin: Southern Asia
Hardiness: 30°F
Musa acuminata is one of the earliest plants to be domesticated by humans for agriculture. Many of the modern edible dessert bananas are derived from this species.
Musa acuminata is a tropical banana species known for its lush, broad green leaves and fast growth. It forms a tall, upright pseudostem that can reach 10 to 20 feet in height, creating a dramatic presence in the garden. The plant produces large, pendulous flower spikes with overlapping purple-red bracts that reveal rows of creamy-yellow flowers inside. These are followed by elongated, curved fruits bananas that are typically seedless, edible, and vary in size and sweetness depending on the cultivar. Musa acuminata thrives in full sun with rich, well-draining soil and regular watering. It prefers warm, humid conditions and should be protected from strong winds and cold. Ideal for USDA zones 9 11, it can also be grown in containers in cooler climates and overwintered indoors.
Similar plants: Musa acuminata (Banana)
- Calathea musaica (Network Calathea)
- Ensete lasiocarpum (Chinese Yellow Banana)
- Musa coccinea (Scarlet Banana)
- Musa haekkinenii (Wild Red Banana)
- Musa sp. ''Truly Tiny'' (Dwarf Banana 'Truly Tiny')
- Musa sp. (Banana)
- Musa sp. 'Ornamental Group' (Ornamental bananas)
- Musa sumatrana (Blood Leaf Banana)
- Musa velutina (Hairy Banana)
- Musa x paradisiaca Ae Ae (Royal Variegated Banana)
