Dwarf Giant Banana
Musa acuminata 'Enano Gigante'
Perennial with large dark green leaves with red markings on juvenile foliage. Mature leaves are solid green. Will produce delicious fruit. Dwarf height limits wind damage.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | MEW-sa a-ku-mi-NA-ta |
| Key feature: | Edible |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden styles: | Contemporary, Tropical |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 10 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Fast growing to 6 to 8 ft. tall and wide clumps. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Flower attribute: | Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Dwarf Plant, Edible, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Poolside |
| Flower color: | Yellow |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 6193 |
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Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
This banana is the cornerstone of the tropical fruit garden, but is so ornamental it is used in many kinds of gardens. Tall narrow form makes it an ideal plant for side yards as fruit tree or leafy privacy screen. Plant in small city gardens as a single specimen. Though listed as a dwarf, this is still a very wide, bushy plant that can beautifully anchor house corners in the front yard landscape.
Companion Plants
To create a tropical-fruit garden, combine this Banana with Clementine Mandarine Orange (Citrus reticulata 'Clementine'), Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) and Vincent Kiwi Vine (Actinidia chinensis 'Vincent') with its male pollenizer, Tomuri Kiwi Vine (Actinidia chinensis 'Tomuri'). Also grows very well under the light filtered shade of Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) surrounded by Silver Dragon Lilyturf (Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon').
History
There are over 40 species in this large, well known genus of edible tropical fruit. They are distributed throughout southeast Asia and the South Pacific. This commercially cultivated species includes many varieties and forms native to Asia and parts of tropical East Africa.
Lore
The genus was named for Antonio Musa, physician to Octavius Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, 63-14 BC.
Perennial with large dark green leaves with red markings on juvenile foliage. Mature leaves are solid green. Will produce delicious fruit. Dwarf height limits wind damage.
Care Information
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Watering can be reduced after establishment. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring.
Design Ideas
This banana is the cornerstone of the tropical fruit garden, but is so ornamental it is used in many kinds of gardens. Tall narrow form makes it an ideal plant for side yards as fruit tree or leafy privacy screen. Plant in small city gardens as a single specimen. Though listed as a dwarf, this is still a very wide, bushy plant that can beautifully anchor house corners in the front yard landscape.
Companion Plants
To create a tropical-fruit garden, combine this Banana with Clementine Mandarine Orange (Citrus reticulata 'Clementine'), Pineapple Guava (Feijoa sellowiana) and Vincent Kiwi Vine (Actinidia chinensis 'Vincent') with its male pollenizer, Tomuri Kiwi Vine (Actinidia chinensis 'Tomuri'). Also grows very well under the light filtered shade of Jacaranda (Jacaranda mimosifolia) surrounded by Silver Dragon Lilyturf (Liriope spicata 'Silver Dragon').
History
There are over 40 species in this large, well known genus of edible tropical fruit. They are distributed throughout southeast Asia and the South Pacific. This commercially cultivated species includes many varieties and forms native to Asia and parts of tropical East Africa.
Lore
The genus was named for Antonio Musa, physician to Octavius Augustus, the first emperor of Rome, 63-14 BC.
| Botanical Pronunciation: | MEW-sa a-ku-mi-NA-ta |
| Key feature: | Edible |
| Plant type: | Perennial |
| Garden styles: | Contemporary, Tropical |
| Deciduous/evergreen: | Evergreen |
| Cold hardiness zones: | 10 - 11 |
| Light needs: | Full sun |
| Water Needs: | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Average landscape size: | Fast growing to 6 to 8 ft. tall and wide clumps. |
| Growth rate: | Fast |
| Flower attribute: | Showy Flowers |
| Special features: | Dwarf Plant, Edible, Year-round Interest |
| Landscape uses: | Border, Container, Poolside |
| Flower color: | Yellow |
| Blooms: | Summer |
| Foliage color: | Green |
| Item no.: | 6193 |
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Monrovia soil products
The best fertilizer to use with this plant is Fruit Tree & Vine .view soil products
