Musa

Musa acuminata

Edible Banana

Musa acuminata is a large herbaceous tree from the warm, humid tropics of South and Southeast Asia, where it grows fast with abundant moisture and warmth. It is a heavy feeder and drinker in active growth, but its fleshy corm rots if left standing in saturated mix, so water when the top inch or two of soil has dried, then water thoroughly. Give it bright indirect light and high humidity, and keep it warm and out of cold drafts.

Musa basjoo

Japanese Banana

Musa basjoo is a fast-growing herbaceous "tree" from subtropical southern China, building large soft leaves from a pseudostem rather than true wood. It is a hungry, thirsty grower in active months but its fleshy base rots if left standing wet, so water when the top inch or two of mix has dried, giving more in warmth and growth and easing off when cool. Give it the brightest indirect light you can, with some gentle direct sun tolerated once acclimated, and shelter the broad leaves from drafts and tearing wind.

Musa velutina

Pink Velvet Banana

Musa velutina is a fast-growing herbaceous banana from the warm, monsoon-fed foothills of Assam and the East Himalaya, where it grows in moist, well-drained ground with strong but filtered light. Give it bright indirect light and a rich, free-draining mix, watering when the top inch of soil has dried; its large soft leaves transpire heavily, so it wants warmth and steady humidity but resents standing water at the roots. Let it approach dry between waterings rather than keeping it soggy.

Musa coccinea

Scarlet Banana

Musa coccinea is a large herbaceous banana from the warm, humid subtropics of southern China and Vietnam, growing as a soft, fast-paced pseudostem rather than a true woody tree. It wants warmth, steady moisture, and bright indirect light, with good drainage so the fleshy base never sits sodden. Water when the top inch of mix has dried, leaning toward the longer interval in cooler or lower-light conditions to avoid rot.

Musa ornata

Flowering Banana

Musa ornata is a fast-growing herbaceous banana from the warm, monsoon-fed lowlands and foothills of the eastern Himalaya and Bangladesh, where it forms broad-leaved clumps. It wants warmth, steady moisture, and the kind of bright filtered light found just back from a sunny window. Water when the top inch of mix has dried, keeping it evenly moist in active growth but never waterlogged, as the fleshy pseudostem and roots will rot if left standing wet.