The fastest way to enjoy a beautiful banana plant is to buy the finished plant. Depending on your requirements, there are a few things to consider.
In the meantime, you can buy exotic plants in almost every garden center, which is why you can also find more and more banana plants there (Musa). The temptation to indulge in impulse purchases is great. Because the plants not only attract with their impressive foliage, but also with large, brightly colored inflorescences and of course the well-known yellow fruits. But the different species and varieties of the genus Musa have very different requirements, which is why you should think twice before buying. Which plant you choose should depend on whether you want to use the plant for food production or as an ornamental plant. If you want to keep your bananas outside all year round, you should also pay attention to the degree of winter hardiness. We help you make the right choice when buying your banana plant.
Buying a banana plant: Choosing the right type and variety
There are over 70 different species of bananas, distributed across tropical to subtropical Asia and the western Pacific region. The needs and appearance of the banana plants are just as different as the extensive areas of distribution and the weather conditions prevailing there. You should therefore know before you buy what purpose the banana plant should serve and where the perennial will later be. Therefore, when buying, ask for the exact variety, this provides information about winter hardiness, fruit formation and appearance.
Hardy Banana Plants
Winter-hardy varieties are particularly in demand, especially if the banana is later to decorate your own garden. Planted specimens of these varieties do not have to be dug up in winter and relocated to a protected winter quarters. The Japanese fiber banana (Musa basjoo) is considered the hardiest species so far. It is also called "garden banana". The 'Nana' and 'Saporro' varieties also have improved frost tolerance and are hardy down to -12°C. The plantsreach a height of around three meters and are easy to care for. But don't be alarmed, the above-ground part dies off after the first frost, as the leaves are only hardy down to -3°C. But with appropriate winter protection, the subterranean rhizome survives our winter temperatures well, so that the exotic perennial sprout again in spring.
There are also species that tolerate shorter, light frost periods because they come from the Japanese high mountains. In regions with mild winters, you can try your luck and overwinter one of the following species outdoors with appropriate shelter:
Musa sikkimensis (hardiest edible fruit bearing species), Musa itinerans (cultivar 'Burmese Blue' is particularly hardy), Musa balbisiana, Musa cheesmanii, Musa yunnanensis
Banana plants with edible fruits
Only a few species and hybrids form edible fruits. The dessert banana (Musa × paradisiaca) is mainly cultivated for food production. There are now more than 1000 crossings and variants of this species and the hybrids it has produced. An interesting alternative is Plantains, which can be enjoyed as a sweet dessert when fully ripe and cooked like potatoes when they are younger. These two variants bear sweet fruit:
- Darjeeling Banana (Musa sikkimensis): Up to four and a half meters in height; bears small, edible, sweet fruits; can also overwinter outside in mild regions
- Dwarf Edible Banana (Musa 'Dwarf Cavendish'): Up to two metres; well suited for tub culture; is wintered at 12° to 18° C in the light
Most species die off after fruiting. As a rule, offshoots form afterwards, through which the plant survives in the form of a new generation. However, in our latitudes, a banana harvest is only possible indoors with a large pot and lots of light and heat. Planted specimens can produce fruit after a mild winter. However, due to our short vegetation period, these do not mature. The banana blossoms are also edible. And the tasteless leaves can also be used as a serving pad or to wrap around fish and meat when cooking or grilling.
Hint: Incidentally, the curvature of the banana has to do with negative gravitropism. In other words, the banana grows in the opposite direction to the earth's gravity.
Banana plants" with special ornamental value
Bananas not only score with delicious fruits. The perennials also have large inflorescences surrounded by beautifully colored bracts. The most widespread ornamental plant among the bananas is the Musa ornata. This species is also known as a decorative banana. The different varieties score with differently colored bracts. In addition, small, seed-rich, very decorative ornamental bananas are formed. Other pretty species or varieties are:
- Pink Dwarf Banana (Musa velutina): Bears pink edible bananas after just one year; Height of growth: More than a meter; not hardy; high water demand
- Himalayan Banana (Musa hookerii): Good for container planting; magnificent flowers, large leaves and small fruits
- Silver Banana (Musa balbisiana 'Black Thai'): Very fast growing; very decorative; up to five meters; edible, seeded fruits; hardy to -5°C
- Golden Lotus Banana (Musella lasiocarpa): Bears a yellow, fragrant giant flower in the second year; blue-green, powdery leaves; not hardy; Height of growth: 60 - 80 cm
Buying banana plants: Watch out for pests and diseases
In general, pests and diseases rarely occur in bananas. But that doesn't mean that every bunch of bananas in the shopping cart should load blindly. Always check that the plant appears he althy and the conditions that the plant will be exposed to at the point of sale. If the plants are too cool or dry, the risk of an infestation by spider mites or mealybugs increases. Incidentally, this also applies to the later location at home. You can recognize a spider mite infestation by a pale leaf tone and fine webs that form in the leaf area. Mealybugs are identified by white, cotton-like webs all over the plant.
Planting bananas: location, care and more
After the purchase, it is not enough to simply place the plant in any corner and water it from time to time. The exotics are particularly choosy when it comes to location and the care must also be right so that you can enjoy your banana tree for longer. Basically, you should note the following:
- Location: As sunny as possible, not directSun exposure, sheltered from the wind
- Soil: Loose and permeable
- Watering: Not too much or too little, no waterlogging, do not let it dry out completely
- Fertilize: All year round, regularly and in moderation with liquid fertilizer in the irrigation water, our Plantura organic citrus & Mediterranean fertilizer is well suited
Here we explain how to properly plant and care for a banana tree. And check out this article for tips on how to overwinter banana plants.