Family: Musaceae

Banana is a giant herbaceous perennial. Native to Tropical Asia, Musa acuminata has been cultivated for at least 4,000 years. Hawai’i’s first introduction was by way of canoe with the Polynesian settlers. Numerous other species, varieties, and cultivars have been introduced since. 

Full of nutrients, the banana is wrapped in an easy-to-peel convenient package.  In some places, bananas are grown for their foliage as they envoke a tropical ambiance.  Fruit is consumed ripe, green, fresh, cooked, boiled, etc. Male flowers can be cooked and eaten like an artichoke. Young shoots are finely sliced and used in stir-fries and sauces. Leaves can be used for wrapping food, disposable plates, cigarette papers, and thatching. Fibers from the stem can be made into a silk-like cloth.  Today, banana is the fourth largest crop worldwide.

Arising from underground rhizomes is a pseudostem made up of leaf sheaths. Leaves are large, green, paddle-shaped, and are attached to a stout midrib. 10 to 12 months after planting, a thick and drooping stem emerges from which flowers and fruit are born. Small green bananas appear after female flowers emerge.  Male flowers begin to open after the fruit is set. Banana’s are a virgin fruit (parthenocarpy), seeds are rarely produced. The brown specks inside the banana are bits of undeveloped ovaries. The pseudostem dies after flowering. Bananas sucker freely after they become established.

Plant in areas protected from the wind (normal trade winds are fine), otherwise the leaves will get torn into ribbons. Banana roots will grow where the soil is ‘loose and inviting.’ Deeper planted trees are less likely to fall over in high winds.  Planting in abandoned mulch/compost piles is a great place to grow your trees. They are heavy feeders! Ensure they get plenty of water. Irrigation may be necessary during times of drought. They do well in full sunlight, although some shade is also good, especially in the heat of the day.

Plant Uses:

• Container plant
• Cultural significance
• Edible
• Medicinal
• Privacy / screening

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers