Plant Profile: Musa acuminata

Taxonomy: Musa acuminata

Names

Banana, Banana Plant, Dessert Banana, Edible Banana, Musa Paradisiaca, Plantain

  • Photo of Musa acuminata (Musa acuminatas)

Phonetic Spelling:MEW-suh ah-kew-min-AY-tuh

Genus:Musa

Species:acuminata

Family:Musaceae

Often referred to simply as the banana, this species includes both wild and domesticated varieties. The Cavendish banana, recognized for its large size and yellow hue, is the most familiar type typically available in supermarkets. This sweet and creamy fruit continues to mature post-harvest, transitioning from a green, starchy state to a yellow, speckled appearance as it ripens and develops its sweetness.

Musa acuminata Feature Summary

Musa acuminata Image Gallery

Tags

#herbaceous perennial
#edible fruits
#edible
#fruits
#non-toxic for horses
#non-toxic for dogs
#non-toxic for cats

Similar Plants

Musa acuminata is often confused with:

Musa acuminata Feature Summary

Attributes
Fruit
An elongated, peelable fruit with creamy flesh. Many commercial cultivars are often bred to be seedless.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
Black
> 3 inches
1-3 inches
Whole Plant Traits
Edible
Herbaceous Perennial
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)

Musa acuminata Attributes

Musa acuminata: Country Or Region Of Origin

Southeast Asia

Musa acuminata: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Musa acuminata Fruit

Musa acuminata: Fruit Description

An elongated, peelable fruit with creamy flesh. Many commercial cultivars are often bred to be seedless.

Musa acuminata: Fruit Type

Achene
Aggregate
Berry
Capsule
Caryopsis
Drupe
Follicle
Legume
Nut
Pome
Samara
Schizocarp
Siliqua

Musa acuminata: Fruit Color

grass
Black
grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Green
grass
Red/Burgundy

Musa acuminata: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Musa acuminata: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Musa acuminata: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Musa acuminata Whole Plant Traits

Musa acuminata: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Musa acuminata Cultural Conditions

Musa acuminata: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Musa acuminata: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b

Musa acuminata Leaves

Musa acuminata: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Musa acuminata Stem

Musa acuminata: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes