Musa velutina
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Musa dasycarpa
- Musa velutina var. variegata
- Phonetic Spelling
- MOO-sah vel-oo-TEE-nuh
- Description
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The pink banana is a tropical perennial in the Musaceae or banana family that is generally grown as an ornamental and has decorative fruits in subtropical climates. It typically grows to 4 to 6 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. It is hardy to zone 7b to 11. The leaves are large, paddle-shaped, dark green, and measure 3 feet long. In late summer the creamy flowers with pink bracts emerge and are quickly followed by clusters of small pink velvety fruits. The fruit is sweet and edible, but it is full of hard black seeds. They ripen and then split open. The bananas are so seedy that is not worth the trouble to try to eat them.
The pink banana is native to East Himalaya to Assam. It is found primarily in subtropical areas.
This herbaceous perennial is a member of the banana family (Musaceae). The genus name is derived from the Arabic name for the fruit, mauz. The specific epithet, velutina, is Latin and means "velvety" and most likely references the pink velvety fruit of the pink banana.
This plant performs best in full sun and moist, well-drained, humus-rich soils. It does not tolerate drought and will need to be watered frequently. A sheltered location is preferred to prevent wind damage to the foliage. The plants will die back to the ground when cold weather appears, and they will reemerge in the spring. It is evergreen in warmer frost-free climates and is propagated by seeds or division.
The trunk is called a pseudo-stem or false stem which has layers of leaf sheaths that are rolled into cylinder-like shapes. The leaves emerge from the center of the pseudo-stem. After planting, it will take 9 to 12 months for the pink banana to produce flowers and another 3 months for the fruits to ripen.
This species has fuzzy or velvety fruits but is otherwise similar to Musa ornata.
Consider the pink banana to add a tropical feel to your landscape. It may be used as a specimen, container plant, and planted around a patio or pool. In colder climates, it will need to be brought indoors or allowed to die back during the winter season.
Seasons of Interest:
Bloom: Summer Foliage: Spring and Summer; evergreen in subtropical areas Fruit: Summer and Fall
Quick ID Hints:
- paddle-shaped, dark green leaves, 3 feet long
- cream to yellow flowers in arching spikes with pink bracts
- bright pink, fuzzy 3-inch long, velvety bananas with multiple hard black seeds and creamy white flesh
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: The pink banana has no serious insect or disease problems. Monitor red spider mites, mealybugs, and aphids.
VIDEO created by Andy Pulte for “Landscape Plant Identification, Taxonomy, and Morphology” a plant identification course offered by the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Tennessee.
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Juniper Level Botanic Garden: Banana Beds
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Musa
- Species:
- velutina
- Family:
- Musaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- The fruits are used for food, medicine, fertilizer, and polishing leather. The leaves are used to wrap food while it is being steamed. In Central America, the leaves are used to make tamales instead of using corn husks.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- East Himalaya to Assam
- Distribution:
- Introduced; Brazil, Costa Rica, Myanmar, and Puerto Rico
- Wildlife Value:
- Attracts birds and butterflies.
- Play Value:
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Food Source
- Edibility:
- Fruits have soft, sweet flesh that can be eaten but the numerous seeds are very hard.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Pink
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are 3 inches long, pink, and fuzzy. The fruit splits open when ripened. The flesh is sweet, creamy white, and edible but contains many hard black seeds.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Cream/Tan
- Gold/Yellow
- Pink
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- Bracts
- Flower Description:
- Cream to yellow tubular flowers with pink bracts appear in late summer.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Blue
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Shape:
- Spatulate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The leaves are dark green, paddle-shaped, and measure 3 feet long.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The leaf sheaths overlap to form a truck-like pseudo-stem that lives through fruit production. New shoots appear to form new pseudo-stems.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Patio
- Pool/Hardscape
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Songbirds