Advanced Search Filters

Plant Type
Hardiness Zone
Heat Zone
Sunset Zone
Function
Sun Exposure
Soil Moisture
Water Requirement

Musa acuminata 'Zebrina'

Image of Musa acuminata 'Zebrina'

©Dolezal Publishing/John M. Rickard

Family

Musaceae

Botanical Name

Musa acuminata 'Zebrina'

Plant Common Name

Banana, Zebrina Banana

General Description

The banana cultivar, ‘Zebrina’, is an upright, fast-growing, ornamental tropical tree-like herb with large, flat, green leaves that have stripes of maroon. The long, pendent flowers give rise to a cluster of small, inedible, maroon-colored fruits. This decorative, herbaceous perennial forms a clump of plants, each flowering and fruiting only once before dying, but it keeps on sending up new shoots to make new plants.

Banana plants love warm fertile soil with consistent moisture. Full sun exposures are best and a long growing season is required to set the flowering stalk and subsequent fruits. Avoid sandy poor soils unless compost, mulch or other rich, organic matter can be placed over the root zone. Like other bananas, ‘Zebrina’ can be root-hardy in warmer temperate zones and rejuvenate after spring frosts. The leaves are large but thin and shred readily in high winds. The exotic and tropical look of ‘Zebrina,’ even without flowering, is reason enough to use this plant in the flower border.

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 7

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    8 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Fruit

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    6'-10' / 1.8m - 3.0m

  • Width

    4'-6' / 1.2m - 1.8m

  • Bloom Time

    Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall

  • Native To

    Southeastern Asia, Australia

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Average

  • Soil type

    Clay, Loam

  • Growth Rate

    Very Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Thicket/Colonizing

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Yellow, Purple, Burgundy, Ivory

  • Fruit Color

    Yellow, Yellow Green

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Lime Green

  • Foliage Color (Spring) Modifier

    Striped/Striated, Spotted/Mottled

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Lime Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer) Modifier

    Striped/Striated, Spotted/Mottled

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Lime Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall) Modifier

    Striped/Striated, Spotted/Mottled

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter) Modifier

    Striped/Striated, SpottedMottled

  • Fragrant Flowers

    No

  • Fragrant Fruit

    Yes

  • Fragrant Foliage

    No

  • Bark or Stem Fragrant

    No

  • Flower Petal Number

    Single

  • Repeat Bloomer

    No

  • Showy Fruit

    Yes

  • Edible Fruit

    Yes

  • Showy Foliage

    Yes

  • Foliage Texture

    Bold

  • Foliage Sheen

    Matte

  • Evergreen

    Yes

  • Showy Bark

    No

Special Characteristics

  • Usage

    Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Mixed Border, Tropical

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    No

  • Invasive

    No

  • Self-Sowing

    No