Plaintain Musa balbisiana
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- MOO-sah bal-BISS-see-an-nah
- Description
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This herbaceous perennial is a member of the banana family (Musaceae). The genus name is derived from the Arabic name for the fruit, mauz.
Plantains are a type of herbaceous pernnial tree from tropical Asia. They grow quickly to a height of 18 feet in large clumps of psudo trunks that can reach a diameter of 15 inches. Plant in full sun to partial shade in moist well drained soil. This plant is no frost tolerant so will die back to the ground in winter in North Carolina.
Propagate this plant by division. The large leaves of this plant grow tattered in windy areas.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Banana Beds
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Cultivars / Varieties:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Musa
- Species:
- balbisiana
- Family:
- Musaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Leaves used as plates or to wrap food.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Southeastern tropical Asia
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible when cooked when ripe. Undergound stems are also eaten as a vegetable. Male flower clusters and inner stem are cooked and used in curries.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 10 ft. 0 in. - 15 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 9 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Edible
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Tree
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
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Cultural Conditions:
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Description:
- Large
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
