How to identify Hardy banana (Musa basjoo)

How to identify Hardy banana (Musa basjoo)

Hardy banana, also known as Japanese banana

Hardy banana captivates with its tropical presence, boasting vast, paddle-shaped leaves in a vivid green hue. These impressive leaves reach approximately 2 feet (60 cm) wide and 6 feet (1.8 m) long and gracefully arch from a sturdy pseudo-stem, itself an aggregate of coalesced leaf sheaths. In the warmth of summer, hardy banana reveals clusters of tubular flowers ranging from cream to yellow. Post-blossom, it produces small ornamental fruits, which, although inedible, add to its exotic allure. The grand stature and showy foliage of hardy banana are complemented by a petiole about 12 inches (30 cm) long, further enhancing its distinctive structure and appearance.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Herb

Leaf Type: Evergreen

Quickly Identify Hardy banana

Large paddle-shaped leaves, up to 6 feet (180 cm) long and 2 feet (60 cm) wide.

Robust, smooth pseudo-stem reaching 6.5 feet (2 meters) in height without branching.

Striking yellow-orange torpedo-shaped flowers with reddish-brown to purple bracts.

Inedible oblong capsule fruit, 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) long, transitioning from green to yellow.

Distinctive petiole up to 12 inches (30 cm) long, enhancing the plant's appearance.

Detailed Traits of Hardy banana

Leaf Features

The leaves of hardy banana are large, narrow, bright green, and paddle-shaped. They can be oblong or lance-shaped, measuring up to 6 feet (180 cm) long and 2 feet (60 cm) wide. Each leaf has a rounded, asymmetrical base, with petioles reaching up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length. The leaf sheaths overlap to form a pseudo-stem. Mature leaves arch gracefully from the top of the trunk, creating a striking visual effect.

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Flower Features

The flowers of hardy banana are striking with their yellow-orange torpedo-shaped blossoms. They are adorned with reddish-brown to purple bracts, making a captivating contrast of colors. These flowers are typically seen in the summer and are pendulous, hanging down from the top of the stem. The inflorescences are large and conspicuous, often measuring up to 1 foot (30 cm) in length. The arrangement and vivid coloration make these flowers easily identifiable and visually appealing.

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Stem Features

Hardy banana features a thick, green pseudo-stem reaching up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) in height, formed by tightly overlapping leaf sheaths. These sheaths are responsible for its sturdy, upright appearance. The texture is smooth and slightly glossy, with no branching, creating a columnar look. The pseudo-stem’s robust structure supports the plant, making it appear like a true stem, despite being comprised of layered leaf bases. This pseudo-stem is crucial for the plant's growth and support.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of hardy banana manifests as a modest-sized, oblong capsule, measuring approximately 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 cm) in length. Its exterior surface presents a transition from green to yellow as it matures. The interior is characterized by a sparse, white, inedible pulp that is peppered with numerous black seeds. This particular fruit is not cherished for consumption, but rather for its ornamental value. Its seeds infuse the fruit with a distinctive appearance, though rendering the fruit unsuitable for conventional culinary uses.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Hardy banana and Their Similar Plants

Edible banana vs. Hardy banana: What's The Difference?

Edible banana (Musa acuminata) is an edible evergreen perennial plant native to Southwest Asia. Some people may perceive edible banana to be a tree, but it is a perennial plant. Edible banana is one of the earlier domesticated plants by humans in the history of evolution. The cultivation of these plants for fruit is a major industry. They are also cultivated as ornamental plants.

Pink banana vs. Hardy banana: What's The Difference?

Pink banana is a wild banana species that is thought to be a trendy ornamental plant due to its unusual vibrant pink bananas and luscious green leaves. It is grown in indoor spaces such as greenhouses and conservatories in colder climates and outdoors in warmer regions.

Flowering banana vs. Hardy banana: What's The Difference?

Musa ornata belongs to the Musa section Rhodochlamys. Rhodochlamys is one of the four sections into which the genus Musa is divided (the others being Australimusa, Callimusa and Eumusa, which is sometimes called Musa). As a member of Rhodochlamys, M. ornata has a basic chromosome number of 2n = 22 compared with 2n = 20 of the Australimusa and Callimusa. Plants of this section are known for their brightly colored bracts. The true M. ornata is found in India and is a small species. From its home in India it reached Central and South America early in the 19th century where it became naturalized. M. ornata is not an especially variable plant in itself but it hybridizes freely with other species. The result is that there are a number of hybrids derived from it in the tropical regions of America. Plants grow to a height of 5 to 10 ft (1.5 to 3.0 m). The plants have green foliage with pink tones throughout. The leaves can grow to be 6 ft (1.8 m) long, 14 inches (360 mm) wide and can be used for tropical cut flower arrangements. It produces pink flowers and small, dark pink or crimson fruit. The fruit type is a banana that is seeded and inedible. Musa ornata is a yellow-orange inflorence whose male and female flowers both tend to be 3-5 per bract in a single row, varying up to about 7 per cluster. The anthers of the male flowers are purple while the female style is green.

Banana vs. Hardy banana: What's The Difference?

Banana is an ancestor of the widely cultivated banana species. However, this species is inedible due to its seeds and differs from the other banana species in its more upright stature. This plant is highly resistant to abiotic stresses. The luscious leaves have historically been used for crafting and packaging.

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Key Facts About Hardy banana

Attributes of Hardy banana

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Herb

Plant Height

2.5 m to 4 m

Spread

1.8 m to 2.5 m

Leaf Color

Green

Flower Size

2 cm to 3 cm

Leaf type

Evergreen

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Scientific Classification of Hardy banana

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Monocotyledons

Order

Gingers, bananas, and allies

Family

Banana

Genus

Musa

Species

Hardy banana (Musa basjoo)

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Distribution Map of Hardy banana

Hardy banana is a plant species native to East Asia, thriving mainly in subtropical climates within this major region. It has been introduced and naturalized in other parts of Asia. Widely cultivated, hardy banana has expanded beyond its native range due to its horticultural appeal and adaptability to various climates, though it primarily prospers within the same continent as its origin.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

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A Comprehensive Guide to Hardy banana How to Grow and Care for Hardy banana