Plant Database
Banana Plant
Musa acuminata ‘Cavendish’
The Banana Plant is the quintessential tropical icon, transforming any sunny space into an exotic oasis with its dramatic, towering foliage and offering the ultimate garden reward: bunches of sweet, homegrown bananas. This fast-growing herbaceous perennial is not a tree but a giant herb, forming a "pseudostem" from tightly wrapped leaf sheaths. In just 9-12 months, it sends up a spectacular flower stalk that develops into a heavy bunch of fruit. While each stem fruits only once, it reliably produces new "pups" (suckers) to continue the harvest cycle, making it a prolific and fascinating centerpiece for warm-climate gardens.
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Grows with astonishing speed, reaching full height and fruiting in 9-12 months from a large sucker.
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Produces the classic, sweet, seedless Cavendish-type bananas perfect for fresh eating and baking.
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Features huge, lush, tropical leaves that create immediate visual impact and a sense of privacy.
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A herbaceous perennial that fruits once per pseudostem, then dies back, replaced by new suckers for continuous production.
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Thrives in full sun, heat, humidity, and consistent moisture with rich, well-drained soil.
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While not cold hardy, it can be grown in large containers in cooler climates and overwintered indoors.
Fruit & Growth Profile:
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Fruit Flavor: Sweet, creamy, and mild when fully tree-ripened, far superior to store-bought.
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Fruit Texture: Soft, smooth, and creamy.
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Best Uses: Primary use is for fresh eating. Also excellent for baking, smoothies, and frying. The plant is a dramatic ornamental for tropical landscaping.