Musa

Musa, more widely referred to as banana trees, is a collection of herbaceous perennial plants native to Asia, Africa, and Australia.  Though banana plants are commonly referred to as trees, they are completely herbaceous and do not produce woody stems or bark.  Thick, fleshy, towering stalks stand erect with huge bright green leaves drooping out from the top.  Banana trees produce blooms with tightly wrapped green, brown, red, or dark purple flower bracts surrounding tiny flowers kept within.  Though they are famous for their edible fruit, the flowers produced by banana trees are also commonly eaten as a vegetable in many places.  Yellow is not the only fruit color that banana trees can produce, as they can also be blueish-purple, red, and orange.  Size is not a limiting factor for growing banana trees, as the multitude of species and cultivars will include one that fits your home or lawn.  Though they typically do not flower or produce fruit when grown indoors, banana trees can thrive if they are provided with adequate lighting.

Most banana trees grow optimally in a location that provides a minimum of 6-8 hours of sun exposure, but there are some varieties that can be scorched if not given a more shaded habitat.  As is the case with most fruit-crop plants, banana trees require a rich, well-draining, deep soil, but they also require very low salt concentrations and prefer slight acidity.  Planting banana trees in groups can help to conserve moisture, which is important considering the substantial watering needs they have.  Aim to keep the soil consistently moist with your watering frequency, but not to the point of waterlogging.  Hot and humid climates are ideal for banana trees, as they may dry out and die in cold, dry weather.  In addition to annually mixing compost into their soil, banana trees should be fed regularly with a balanced fertilizer during the growing season.  Learn more in the Plant Story community.  

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water moderately, allowing the top 3cm to dry out between watering.

Musa

Musa

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