BANANA Plants For Zones 8b-10

VARIETIES OF BANANAS

There are many kinds of interesting bananas to grow for the Florida home gardener. Let's start with a basic few: Grand Nain, Dwarf Cavendish, and Pisang Ceylon 'Lady Fingers'.    All heights are measurements of the trunk height, to where the leaves begin.

'Musa acuminata'
Cavendish bananas are a group of cultivars of Musa acuminata that represented 47% of global banana production by 1998 to 2000. They are distinguished from one another simply by height & features of the fruit.

GRANDE NAIN:
A cultivar of Cavendish, this is Chiquita's favorite. The name refers to its relative height, as distinguished from the Giant Cavendish and the Dwarf Cavendish. The leaves often become torn or tattered from the wind. Its name is French for "Large Dwarf".

Grand Nain grows from 6-8' tall and can produce 40-60lbs of fruit at a time. It likes a somewhat acidic soil pH of 5.8-6.2. Grows in full sun to partial sun in zones 8-11.

DWARF CAVENDISH:
At 6-7' average height, this banana is one of the shortest of the Cavendish bananas. Expect up to 8' in a greenhouse, and even 10' outdoors in South Florida. Juvenile leaves will have some reddish-purple markings, but later more mature leaves will be all green. Fast growing. Winters well indoors. Grows in zones 8-11.

'Pisang Ceylon' LADY FINGERS:
Pisang Ceylon 'Lady Fingers' is the most common variety grown by Dole and used for their 'Baby Dole' or mini banana. It is an improved 'Mysore' banana. It is one of the best tasting Lady Fingers in the world, and the most popular variety grown in India.

Also known as 'Sugar Bananas', the fruits are quite sweet and only 4-5" long. They are light yellow in color and thin skinned. Bears large, compact banana bunches weighing up to 50lbs. Pisang Ceylon has a shelf life that out lasts other lady finger varieties by several days.

Plants are green-leafed with red midribs, and can also have a reddish trunk. The Pisang Ceylon cultivar is considered to be more resistant to Black Streak virus. Pisang Ceylon grows to 14-16' tall and has a stout root system, making it one of the more "wind resistant" bananas. Very hardy and drought tolerant.

More Varieties

We carry many more varieties than just the basics:  some for flavor, some for their extended cold tolerance and easier fruiting in the temperate conditions of Central Florida. 

RAJI PURI
Somewhat of a dwarf at 6-7' tall, Raji Puri is one of the more cold tolerant bananas for zones 8b & 9.  It has the sweetness of a typical dessert banana, and ripens in about 5-6 months from spring, making it one of the faster bananas to fruit in the area.

RAJI PURI  PINEAPPLE
Much like the Raji Puri, but slightly shorter and tangier, reminiscent of a pineapple flavor.

'BLUE JAVA'  aka   ICE CREAM  BANANA
Ice Cream grows 12-14' tall, has a vanilla & cream flavor, and is root hardy in zone 9a, maybe some of 8b if in protected micro-climates.

Nam Wah  aka  DWARF ICE CREAM
Dwarf Ice Cream only reaches  5-6' tall, has a similar vanilla & cream flavor, and is root hardy in zone 9a, maybe some of 8b if grown in protected micro-climates.

MANZANO  aka   'APPLE'  BANANA
Like its name,   'Apple' has a distinct sweet apple flavor, strong tart apple smell, and a firmer texture than the Cavendish bananas.  Not as cold tolerant as Raji Puri -- better suited to zone 9b and warmer.

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3 new varieties for FALL 2021:

DOUBLE MAHOI
Double Mahoi is actually a type of dwarf Cavendish, typically reaching only 5-6' tall for the 'trunk'.  Very wide, dark green leaves silhoutee 2 or more bunches of fruit simultaneously.   UPDATE:   ready for May 2022;

GOLDFINGER (FHIA-1)
Goldfinger (FHIA-1)  from the Honduras Agricultural Research Foundation (1988), grows 10-14' tall, produces large 6-8" sweet tasting fruits. Highly disease resistant, more wind tolerant than some.

SWEETHEART (FHIA-3)
Sweetheart (FHIA-3)  Another Honduras variety from 1987, grows approx 7-12' tall, with a bright light green trunk;  produces a firm fruit with an apple-like flavor and a refreshing lemony scent. Can be used for cooking or eaten fresh when fully ripened.

Plantain types:

DWARF ORINOCO
Dwarf Orinoco is a vigorous growing banana that grows 5-6' tall.   This is a short-season banana that is highly wind resistant, making it suitable for North Central Florida growing:  zones 9a & 8b.

Flavor and texture is kinda halfway between a plantain and a dessert banana:  It's more sweet and tender than a plantain, but makes an excellent cooking banana.  Also works well for dehydrating or making banana chips.