Tabernaemontana pandacaqui
Banana BushFamily: Apocynaceae
Origin: Australia, Melanesia, New Guinea
Very cute low growing shrub native of the South Pacific, with Jasmine-like white pin-wheeled fragrant flowers, 5 petals with long tips fusing to form tube, regularly symmetrical.
The flowers are then followed by a pair of seeds that look like two bananas hanging in opposite directions, hence its common name. They start out red and then turn yellow when they ripen.
Variety Netty is a dwarf perennial shrub that grows only 3-4 ft tall. Its lush green foliage is a great backdrop for the abundant and continuous small white flowers that are pinwheel shaped.
Banana Bush works well as a mass planting, specimen shrub, or containerized accent piece. It is also drought tolerant once established and is a moderate grower. Ectra benefit is lack of pest problems associated with it. This plant is truly a winner.
In some sources Tabernaemontana pandacaqui is indicated as synonim of Tabernaemontana orientalis, however in our opinion they are different, with T. orientalis having pointed petals and T. pandacaqui rounded ones.
Similar plants:
- Rauvolfia verticillata, Cerbera chinensis, Dissolaena verticillata, Ervatamia ophiorhizoides, Rauvolfia yunnanensis, Tabernaemontana densiflora (Devil Pepper)
- Stemmadenia galeottiana, Tabernaemontana litoralis, Stemmadenia litoralis (Lechoso, Milky Way Tree)
- Stemmadenia grandiflora, Tabernaemontana grandiflora (Wedding Tree, Huevos de gato, Lechugo, Venenillo)
- Tabernaemontana africana (Samoan Gardenia)
- Tabernaemontana aurantiaca (Orange Milkwood)
- Tabernaemontana australis (Australian Pinweel)
- Tabernaemontana corymbosa (Flower of Love)
- Tabernaemontana crassa, Conopharyngia crassa, Conopharyngia durissima (Adam's Apple)
- Tabernaemontana divaricata Flore Pleno, Hollarhena densiflora, Tabernaemontana coronaria (Crape Jasmine, Carnation of India, East Indian Rosebay, Adam's Apple, Nero's Crown, Coffee Rose, Crepe Gardenia)
- Tabernaemontana divaricata, Ervatamia divaricata, Ervatamia coronaria (Pinwheel Jasmine, Crape Jasmine, Crepe Gardenia)