Musa x paradisiaca (Edible Banana)

Musa x paradisiaca (Edible Banana) is a large, fast-growing, suckering evergreen perennial boasting huge, paddle-shaped, deep green leaves, up to 8 ft. long (240 cm). Drooping spikes of yellow flowers adorned with showy purple-red bracts appear seasonally on mature plants (2-3 years old). They are sometimes followed by edible, tasty yellow bananas. The ripe fruits are sweet, juicy and full of seeds and the peel is thicker than other bananas. The leaf sheathes overlap to form a trunk-like pseudostem. Each pseudostem has a limited lifespan. It only lives as long as it takes it to flower and produce fruit. After flowering and fruiting, the pseudostem dies, but the roots push out new shoots (banana pups) which form new pseudostems.

• Grows up to 7-25 ft. tall (210-750 cm) and 6-10 ft. wide (180-300 cm).
• Performs best in full sun in humus-rich, well-drained soils. Best growth occurs with consistently moist soils that do not dry out. Banana trees do not do well in drought conditions since they need to be watered often for proper growth. Shelter from the wind to prevent the leaves from being damaged. Fertilize plants regularly during the growing season.
• Great choice for containers or Mediterranean gardens where it will proudly stand out.
• Disease free. Keep an eye out for glasshouse red spider mite, mealybugs and aphids.