Most gardeners have tried their hand at growing herbs or veggies, but did you know you can grow your own banana plants? Those in warmer climates can grow a variety of Musa species, including Dwarf Cavendish, which is the plant known for the grocery store fruit you are picturing.
But that’s not all; there’s also the ice cream banana tree that flourishes in home gardens, producing blue bananas that taste like vanilla ice cream. We also discuss a mutated cultivar that offers double the typical bounty of fruit.
Perhaps you’re not a fan of the humble banana? These plants are also prized for ornamental value, adding tropical, breezy vibes to home gardens with their huge, colorful leaves, sometimes mottled with purple or maroon veins. Fruit aside, these tropicals are excellent choices for home gardens in warm regions.
In cooler USDA zones, these trees can be grown part-time outside and otherwise indoors, though at least one on our list of 9 best banana trees for home gardens is actually cold-hardy down to zone 5.
Dwarf Cavendish
The Dwarf Cavendish brings tropical delight and delicious bananas to any home.
If your goal in growing a banana tree is to cultivate delicious, healthy fruits, then you can’t go wrong purchasing a ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ banana tree. In good health, ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ trees produce bunches of fruit just like the ones at the grocery store, and they can be grown pretty much anywhere.
These tropical plants are only hardy in zones 8 through 11, but they can be cared for in colder regions as long as you keep them in pots and move them indoors each winter. They make excellent houseplants, adding tropical flare to your home with big, broad leaves that start out with purple mottling and mature to green.
With proper care and with plenty of time outside, they may reach up to 10 feet in height. Keep this in mind if you intend to keep yours inside part-time.
Prepare well-draining, nutrient-rich soil for a ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, as they are subject to root rot if left in wet soil for long, and plant it where it will receive full sun. If/when you move it indoors, provide about as much light as you can.
You’ll know the fruits are ripe when they fade to their signature shade of yellow. To harvest, carefully use clean, sharp pruners or a knife to sever a bunch of fruits instead of plucking by hand and possibly damaging the plant.
The ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ cultivar has been producing what is now a staple crop since the 19th century, when it was first grown in the greenhouses of the 6th Duke of Devonshire. Isn’t it about time you join in the tradition?
Cold Hardy Japanese Banana
The Japanese banana thrives in cooler climates with tropical flair.
If you live in a cooler zone and would prefer a tree that you can plant outside and leave outside, then you’re in luck. Cold-hardy M. basjoo, also known as Japanese banana, is perennial all the way down to USDA zone 5. That’s right, you can grow Japanese banana trees in areas as far north as New England.
There are two catches. One, these trees do not produce edible fruits. Their fruits aren’t poisonous, but they’re not prized for their edibility. They’re not like the fruit you see at the store. And two, in colder areas, the pseudostems or central stalks of these subtropical trees will die down to the ground in winter. The rhizome below will survive, and the tree will re-emerge each spring.
Nonetheless, Japanese banana trees add a tropical atmosphere in areas that are otherwise temperate, making them ideal for a pool area or outdoor lounge. They also tolerate partial shade, while most other similar tropical trees demand full sun.
Like ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, plant these banana trees in well-draining soil that’s packed with nutrients. They prefer their soil to remain somewhat moist but not wet, and they must be protected from drought.
And since these plants do a lot of growing, especially if they’re bouncing back from a rhizome each year, they are heavy feeders. Cut down the stalk in colder areas before it dies back. Amend the soil with compost each spring and give your tree a few doses of all-purpose fertilizer throughout the growing season.
If you get a cold hardy banana tree or two and plant them in the ground, you may also discover that they provide a nice little privacy fence, especially as more offshoots pop up each year.
Ice Cream Banana
This tropical delight is a must-try for banana lovers.
If you love to eat bananas, you’ve got to try your hand at growing the ice cream banana tree, also known as ‘Blue Java.’ The fruits on these tropicals have a creamy, vanilla taste that will remind you of ice cream. Even the texture is said to be ice-cream-like.
They’re the perfect snack for anyone with a sweet tooth, and the fruits are pretty to look at, too, ripening to a shade of icy blue. In fact, ice cream banana trees offer as much ornamental as edible value, with their large, lush leaves.
In cooler climates, these plants make great indoor/outdoor houseplants, as they are known to thrive in containers. Be sure to plant them in a high quality, well-draining potting mix in a large pot with a drainage hole to help avoid root rot.
They also need about eight hours of sunlight or more to grow to their potential, so keep sun exposure in mind when deciding where to plant them. Indoors, keep them next to a south-facing window or on a sun porch. If your indoor lighting isn’t the best, consider grow lights.
Once you’ve harvested the unique blue fruits, you can cut down the main stalk, as it won’t re-fruit. These plants propagate by sending out offshoots at ground level, so once you remove the main stalk, one of the pups can take precedence and replace it.
You can also divide the pups as they form, splitting the rhizome below ground level with a clean cut, allowing you to plant more ice cream banana trees around your property or to share them with a friend.
Red Banana
Consider the striking red Abyssinian banana for a vibrant garden color.
If you prefer some color beyond green, then consider the red banana, also known as Abyssian banana. Technically in the Esente genus now after previously being categorized as Musa, these trees are no longer formally bananas but behave very similarly.
The banana-like fruits on these plants are quite dry, and whether you’d consider them “edible” is a bit subjective. You can definitely eat them if you insist, but they won’t be anything like a grocery store fruit. These plants are high in ornamental value.
Large, green leaves with red edges and red veins sprout from a pseudostem. The contrasting color pops and catches the eye. The leaves have a glossy luster to them and sometimes have a neon green hue. This perennial cultivar stands out in a sea of dark green.
These are also one of the rare “banana” trees that can still be happy in partial shade, though they prefer lots of sunlight. They prefer an area that gets sun half the day. A bit of shade can help prevent their soil from drying out, which is preferable. These tropical plants prefer moist soil.
And just like the other plants on this list, you can keep red banana as a houseplant or a porch plant, so if you are located in a zone colder than 10, this plant should still be on your radar. Just make sure it’s in well-draining soil and be careful not to overwater.
Double Mahoi
For abundant, sweet fruits, try the compact Double Mahoi banana.
If you’re in the right zone and a ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ doesn’t satisfy your appetite, consider a ‘Double Mahoi’ banana tree, a mutation of ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ that actually produces double the amount of bunches in its second year.
That’s right, ‘Double Mahoi’ produces double the fruit, and since its height peaks at around 8 feet, it’s more compact than ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, too. The fruits are consistent and sweet. Quality is not sacrificed for the higher quantity; these fruits will be picturesque in a basket on your countertop.
Just like the other trees on this list, ‘Double Mahoi’ prefers a lot of light. These are truly full sun plants, so if you want to maximize the number of fruits, don’t skimp on sunlight. Plant them in an area of your home garden with full sun exposure, and use rich, well-draining soil.
These plants are subject to root rot if the soil does not drain well, and they also need a lot of nutrients to produce so many bunches. Be sure to amend the soil each year with compost at least once in early spring.
‘Double Mahoi’ is not cold-hardy and will probably not bounce back from a freeze or two. It’s known to be hardy in zones 8 through 11, but if you’re in zone 8, consider planting it in a pot in case you need to bring the plant indoors during an unexpectedly cold winter. Those in even cooler zones can grow ‘Double Mahoi’ as a tropical houseplant.
Little Prince
Opt for the Little Prince banana for its compact size and charm.
Next on the list is the Little Prince banana, which is another cultivar of M. acuminata like the ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, except that, unlike ‘Dwarf Cavendish’, this cultivar is quite small, reaching a maximum height of about four feet tall.
‘Little Prince’ is the perfect plant to stick in corners of your home garden where you’d like to pop in a tropical tree but don’t want to shade everything around it. At its full size with its large, glossy leaves unfurled, it may take up about four feet in width.
Its small size also makes it much easier to move ‘Little Prince’ around, whether you’re moving indoors for the winter in a cooler zone or just like to keep some potted plants in your garden to rearrange every now and then.
‘Little Prince’ prefers full sun exposure but can handle some shade. It does still provide edible fruits once it gets big enough, so give it plenty of sun and nutrients if that is your goal. Otherwise, it may grow slightly slower in partial shade but will be just fine.
Additional sunlight can also inspire ‘Little Prince’ trees to produce leaves with some extra color. They’re typically just green, but as the plant matures and under the right lighting, they can develop some dark red blotching.
If the rest of the banana trees on this list appeal to you, but you just can’t imagine caring for a tree so large, then consider the ‘Little Prince’ cultivar.
Grand Nain
Choose this vigorous banana for abundant, store-like fruit harvests.
Perhaps the opposite of LIttle Prince is ‘Grand Nain,’ another cultivar of M. acuminata. Though ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ and ‘Grand Nain’ can both get up to about ten feet tall, ‘Grand Nain’ grows more aggressively and is more likely to get there. Its name actually means “large dwarf” in French.
‘Grand Nain’ is also akin to ‘Dwarf Cavendish’ in that it produces signature bananas, ripening to yellow and tasting just like what you’d get at the store. It also prefers full sunlight, well-draining soil, and lots of nutrients.
As these trees get quite tall, their foliage can be somewhat subject to wind damage. Consider planting ‘Grand Nain’ near a building or structure that may help block wind, if you can do so without reducing the plant’s sun exposure.
You can also help your ‘Grand Nain’ out by giving it frequent fertilizer, whether that’s in the form of compost, granular fertilizer, or fish emulsion. Really, any well-balanced fertilizer will works for this fast grower.
Like the other trees on this list, you can pot ‘Grand Nain’ up in a large container and move it indoors when it gets cold if you live in zone 8 or lower, but of course, as this cultivar gets quite large, moving it around may be a hassle.
Blood Banana
Add a splash of vibrant red with this tropical tree.
If you’re on the hunt for an ornamental, the blood banana tree may be just what you were looking for. Its name refers to gorgeous, dark red coloring on the leaves that makes this tropical tree stand out.
This cultivar or subspecies also goes by the name “stripe-leaf banana” due to its blood-red striping. The tropical foliage can add a lot of color to your home garden at the branching level where there otherwise may be just green.
Additionally, blood banana trees only reach about six feet in height, making them much easier to move around. You could keep one of these plants in a pot, moving it around your home garden to your heart’s desire and then transferring indoors when it gets cold, with little effort.
Technically, these plants do produce edible fruits, but they won’t be like the bananas you prefer to eat. These trees produce seed-packed fruits that aren’t ideal for smoothies. If you’re looking for kitchen countertop bananas, turn to ‘Dwarf Cavendish’.
Keep these plants in well-draining soil, but don’t let the soil dry out. These tropicals are not ready to handle drought and prefer consistent moisture for optimal growth. Be sure to amend the soil with compost or fertilizer each growing season, too.
Dwarf Sumatrana
Experience the best of beauty and bounty with Dwarf Sumatrana.
Last but not least is the ‘Dwarf Sumatrana’ banana tree, which is a hybrid of ‘Grand Nain’ and ‘Zebrina,’ or blood banana. That means that ‘Dwarf Sumatrana’ has the best of both worlds, producing large, edible fruits and maintaining beautiful red leaf mottling.
This Musa hybrid has similar care requirements to most of the trees on this list: It prefers moist but well-draining soil, plenty of nutrients, and lots of sunlight. ‘Dwarf Sumatrana’ can get by in partial shade, but if you’re aiming for ‘Grand Nain’s’ fruit and blood banana’s striping, it’ll need as much sun as possible.
Just like the others, you can plant this tree in a large pot and bring it inside when it gets cold. Though the plant will survive temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 degrees Celsius) for a little bit, it’s not frost-tolerant, so the 50-degree mark is a good time to move back inside in autumn. Otherwise, it’s hardy in zones 9, 10, and 11.
If growing in the garden, these trees should fruit each year. After fruiting, the pseudostem will die down, but you can expect a pup to replace it with its own fruit next year. You can also separate the pups to propagate ‘Dwarf Sumatrana’.
Though all 9 of these tropical plants are great options for home gardens, the ‘Dwarf Sumatrana’ hybrid may have it all: striking leaves, bunches of edible fruits, and a moderate size.
Final Thoughts
There are a surprising amount of banana trees out there for home gardens, whether they produce classic yellow fruits or just add a serious punch of ornamental value to the landscape. They all have big, beautiful green leaves, some with variegation in shades of red and purple.
And though these tropical trees are rarely frost-tolerant, except for M. basjoo, they make excellent potted houseplants when winter approaches. If you’ve got a spot that gets lots of sunlight, try growing a banana tree!
