Culture
Best grown in organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soil in full sun. Plants tolerate and often appreciate some part shade or light filtered sun in the heat of the day. Best growth occurs with consistently moist soils that do not dry out. Fertilize plants regularly during the growing season. Site plants in areas protected from strong winds which can severely damage the large leaves. For containers, use a well-drained potting soil mix. Keep container soils consistently moist but not wet. Hardy in Zones 8-11. Top growth will be damaged by frost and die back to the ground with freezing temperatures. Options for overwintering include: (1) For plants grown directly in the ground, cut stems back to 2' after frost kills the leaves, apply a thick mulch to the ground to protect the roots; (2) For container plants, bring container indoors in fall before first frost and place in a large sunny room for overwintering as a houseplant, with reduced water and fertilization, or trim foliage and store container in the basement in a cool frost free corner, providing just an occasional touch of moisture in winter to prevent the soils from totally drying out; (3) For large plants (whether grown directly in the ground or in containers), cut foliage back in fall after first frost, trim plus wrap roots in plastic and store plants in a cool, dark, frost-free corner of the basement until spring.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Musa balbisiana, commonly known as plantain, is a large, suckering banana species native to humid, forested ravines in tropical Asia, from the Indian subcontinent east to southern China and south to New Guinea. It has an extensive history of cultivation in the region and its exact native range not concretely known. Mature clumps will reach 5-15' tall or more with a similar spread. Plants produce huge paddle-shaped, upright leaves that grow to 6-10’ long. Leaf sheathes overlap to form a trunk-like pseudostem (false stem). White to cream colored flowers are surrounded by reddish-purple bracts and bloom on pendulous inflorescences reaching 8' long. The flowers are followed by grey-green, curved fruits that mature to yellow and will reach around 5" long and 1.5" wide.
Genus name honors Antonia Musa, Roman physician of the 1st century B.C.
The specific epithet balbisiana honors Giovanni Battista Balbis (1765-1831), Italian botanist and politician.
'Thai Black' is an ornamental selection of plantain that features showy, nearly black pseudostems. Mature clumps will reach 18' or more tall with a similar spread.
Problems
Grasshoppers, borers and root nematodes may attack outdoor plants. Susceptible to anthracnose, wilt and mosiac virus. Watch for aphids, spider mites, mealybugs and scale on houseplants.
Uses
Whether grown outdoors in the landscape or indoors as a houseplant, bananas need lots of space. They are classic tropical foliage plants. Effective when grown as a garden centerpiece or for tropical flair near patios or bodies of water. Fruits can be seeded or seedless. The pulp is edible and can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are used for wrapping or packaging, paper pulp, and as livestock fodder. The stems are edible when young and used to produce fiber.