Perennial
Musa velutina
Pink banana
A compact banana that quickly produces upright pink flower bracts and velvety pink fruits, even in a pot.
- Full sun, Partial shade
- 1.5–2.5 m (5–8 ft)
- 1–1.5 m (3–5 ft)
- H1b · Zone 12
- July–September
- Evergreen
- RHS Award of Garden Merit
Overview
Pink banana, from north-east India, is a small, clumping banana with paddle leaves and upright flower stems bearing hot pink bracts and yellow flowers in summer. These are followed by fuzzy pink fruits that split open when ripe, revealing white flesh full of black seeds.
The RHS treats it as tender, needing about 10°C (50°F), but US growers find the roots survive to around −12°C (10°F), USDA zones 7b–11, regrowing each spring. It flowers within a year and is excellent where summers are hot and humid.
Grow in rich, moist soil in sun or light shade, sheltered from wind.
At a Glance
Growing Conditions
Aspect Suitability
- South-facing
- West-facing
Soil Tolerance
- Loam
- Acid
- Neutral pH
Foliage
- Architectural foliage
Foliage interest: 12 months of the year
Seasonal Timeline
- Flowering Jul Aug Sep
- Foliage 12 months of the year
- Fruiting Sep Oct
- Propagate Apr May Jun
How to propagate
One way to grow more Pink banana:
Division Apr Easy
You'll need: Spade or sharp knife
- Unpot or expose the clump
- Cut away a sucker with its own roots
- Pot in rich compost in warmth
- How long
- 1 hour
- It's worked when
- high
- Then
- Water in well and keep moist while new roots form.
Divide clumps or detach suckers in spring warmth; seed sown fresh.
Garden Design
Works well in: Tropical / Exotic
A small, quick banana that flowers and fruits within a year from planting: upright pink bracts and velvety pink fruits on a compact plant.
Companion planting: Cannas, Colocasias, Gingers, Ferns
Wildlife Value
- Shelter