Plant Profile: Musa velutina

The Pink Banana is a tropical perennial belonging to the banana family, primarily cultivated for its ornamental appeal. It thrives in USDA hardiness zone 7b, where it may die back to the ground during colder months but will resprout in the spring. Late summer brings creamy flowers adorned with pink bracts, which are soon followed by sweet, edible pink fruit filled with hard black seeds.

This plant flourishes in well-drained, humusy soils that retain moisture and require full sunlight. It can be showcased as a standalone specimen or grown in containers. In regions with colder climates, it is essential to move the plant indoors or into a greenhouse to protect it from frost.