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Musa x paradisiaca (Common banana)
2 hours care
per year
per year
7.5m
Max height
Max height
3m
Max spread
Max spread
10-20 years
To maturity
To maturity
Plant details
Botanical name
Musa x paradisiaca
Other names
Common banana, Adam's apple , Adam's fig, Edible banana, French plantain, Plantain , Plantain tree, Hybrid plantains
Genus
Musa Musa
Species
M. x paradisiaca - M. x paradisiaca is a vigorous yet tender, suckering, evergreen perennial with large, oblong to paddle-shaped, grey-green leaves and. in summer, yellow flowers with reddish-purple bracts followed by edible, elongated, yellow fruit.
Musa x paradisiaca is: Evergreen
Habit
Suckering, Upright
Flower
Reddish-purple, Yellow in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
No pruning required. Remove spent foliage and cut back in autumn if desired.
Propagation
Soak seed for 24 hours and then sow at 21-24C. Separate suckers in early spring. Divided every 5 years.
Propagation methods
Seed, Division, Suckers
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Where to grow
Musa x paradisiaca (Common banana) will reach a height of 7.5m and a spread of 3m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Containers, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Grow under glass in loam-based compost in full light, shaded from hot sun. Water freely & feed monthly. For bedding, plant out in humus-rich soil in sun. Lift and pot up in autumn or wrap with straw and chicken wire.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Musa x paradisiaca
Other names
Common banana, Adam's apple , Adam's fig, Edible banana, French plantain, Plantain , Plantain tree, Hybrid plantains
Genus
Musa Musa
Species
M. x paradisiaca - M. x paradisiaca is a vigorous yet tender, suckering, evergreen perennial with large, oblong to paddle-shaped, grey-green leaves and. in summer, yellow flowers with reddish-purple bracts followed by edible, elongated, yellow fruit.
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Suckering, Upright
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Colour
Flower
Reddish-purple, Yellow in Summer
Foliage
Dark-green in All seasons
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Aphids , Glasshouse red spider mite , Mealybugs
Diseases
Generally disease-free.
General care
Pruning
No pruning required. Remove spent foliage and cut back in autumn if desired.
Propagation
Soak seed for 24 hours and then sow at 21-24C. Separate suckers in early spring. Divided every 5 years.
Propagation methods
Seed, Division, Suckers
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Musa x paradisiaca (Common banana) will reach a height of 7.5m and a spread of 3m after 10-20 years.
Suggested uses
Architectural, Containers, Greenhouse, Sub-Tropical
Cultivation
Grow under glass in loam-based compost in full light, shaded from hot sun. Water freely & feed monthly. For bedding, plant out in humus-rich soil in sun. Lift and pot up in autumn or wrap with straw and chicken wire.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 11, Zone 10, Zone 9
Defra's Risk register #1
Plant name
Musa x paradisiaca (Common banana)
Common pest name
Lance nematode; Nematode; Lance
Scientific pest name
Hoplolaimus spp.
Type
Nematode
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
2
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
4
General biosecurity comments
Nematode species potentially affecting a wide variety of crops; prohibition of soil likely to mitigate risk substantially; keep under review in light of interceptions or findings should they occur in the EU.
Defra's Risk register #2
Plant name
Musa x paradisiaca (Common banana)
Common pest name
Stunt nematode
Scientific pest name
Tylenchorhynchus leviterminalis
Type
Nematode
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
1
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
4
General biosecurity comments
Nematode pest mainly in Asia and Africa; could only potentially affect glasshouse crops in UK but no obvious pathway.
Defra's Risk register #3
Plant name
Musa x paradisiaca (Common banana)
Common pest name
Asain cotton leafworm; Cluster caterpillar; Fall armyworm; Rice cutworm; Taro caterpiller; Tobacco budworm; Tobacco caterpillar; Tobacco cutworm; Tobacco leaf caterpillar
Scientific pest name
Spodoptera litura
Type
Insect
Current status in UK
Absent
Likelihood to spread to UK (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
3
Impact (1 is very low - 5 is very high)
3
General biosecurity comments
Regulated pest; frequently intercepted with occasional outbreaks which have been successfully eradicated in the UK.
About this section
Our plants are under greater threat than ever before. There is increasing movement of plants and other material traded from an increasing variety of sources. This increases the chances of exotic pests arriving with imported goods and travellers, as well as by natural means. Shoot is working with Defra to help members to do their part in preventing the introduction and spread of invasive risks.
Traveling or importing plants? Please read "Don't risk it" advice here
Suspected outbreak? Click here for contact details to report to the relevant authority.
Date updated: 7th March 2019 For more information visit: https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Well-drained | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Indoor heated (H1), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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