Common name: Banana
Family: Musaceae (Banana)
Height x width: 6-20' x 6-10ft
Growth habit: upright false stems (pseudostems) of leaf blade sheaths tightly clasped together, arching to fan shaped, suckering rhizomes forming large clumps
Growth rate: rapid in warm climates, slow in cool
Foliage: large, oblong to paddle-shaped, 3 to 10 feet long, variously green depending on species, entire, occasionally split to midrib
Flowers: hanging clusters of tubular flowers on a terminal spike, usually pendulous, variously colored, one inch or more long; forming the well-known edible fruit
Hardiness: USDA zone 10
Soil: loamy
Light: sun
Pests and Problems: red spider mites, aphids and mealybugs indoors; wind causes leaf tatter
Landscape habit, uses: specimen, containers
Other interest: native to Southeast Asia, No. Queensland, India and Tropical Africa; the more ornamental species listed here, with main edible species being x paradisiaca and its cultivars; similar design effect but smaller plants from Canna; named for Antonius Musa, physician to Augustus--the first Roman emperor
Other culture: overwinter indoors before frost as very frost sensitive; protect from wind or place in sheltered site to avoid leaf tearing
Propagation: ripe seed, stored seed after water soaking 24 hours, division of suckers from clumps
Species:
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