Tabernaemontana pandacaqui (Banana Bush)

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.