Advanced Search Filters

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

Musa( Cavendish, A A A Group)

Image of Musa (Cavendish, A A A Group)

Grandiflora

Family

Musaceae

Botanical Name

Musa( Cavendish, A A A Group)

Plant Common Name

Banana, Cavendish Banana

General Description

Banana is one of the world's most important food crops. The Cavendish group is a subgroup of edible bananas. They are particularly popular as crops in the tropical Americas and the Philippines and are said to put forth nearly half of the world’s banana production. All have a moderate to short stature are typically broad leaved and produce lots of high quality seedless yellow fruit.

Like all edible bananas, its members have been long cultivated and are hybrids of Musa acuminata and M. balbisiana. The “AAA” is a genetic designation, which specifies the members of this group as triploids (having an extra set of chromosomes) rather than diploids, the natural genetic state of most plant cells. In contrast, tetraploids would be noted as “AAAA” and diploids as “AA.” The letters in “AAA” also distinguish its relative genetic content from Musa acuminata (A) and M. balbisiana (B). Because Cavendish bananas are triploid, having an extra chromosome copy, they are more vigorous than average bananas and produce larger fruits in greater quantity.

Bananas require warm, fertile soil with consistent moisture. Full sun exposures are best and a long growing season is needed for flowering and subsequent fruits. Avoid sandy, nutritionally poor soils unless compost, mulch or other fertilizers can be placed over the root zone. These plants are often root hardy in warmer temperate zones and rejuvenate after spring frosts.

Bananas can produce fruit year round. Once plants set fruit, they can be chopped down to allow the pup plants, which grow from the base of the parent stems, more room and resources to grow. Members of the Cavendish subgroup are resistant to Panama disease (fusarium wilt) but still susceptible to Sigatoka leaf spot.

The Cavendish (AAA Group) includes the following edible banana cultivars and cultivar subgroups:

  • ‘Double’
  • ‘Dwarf Cavendish’
  • ‘Extra Dwarf Cavendish’
  • ‘Giant Cavendish’ (and its cultivars)
  • ‘Grand Naine’
  • ‘Pisang Misak Hijau’ (the green ripe bananas)

Characteristics

  • AHS Heat Zone

    12 - 7

  • USDA Hardiness Zone

    9 - 15

  • Sunset Zone

    H1, H2, 21, 22, 23, 24

  • Plant Type

    Fruit

  • Sun Exposure

    Full Sun, Partial Sun

  • Height

    3'-12' / 0.9m - 3.7m

  • Width

    2'-8' / 0.6m - 2.4m

  • Bloom Time

    Indeterminate

  • Native To

    Hybrid Origin

Growing Conditions

  • Soil pH

    Acidic, Neutral

  • Soil Drainage

    Well Drained

  • Soil type

    Loam, Sand

  • Growth Rate

    Very Fast

  • Water Requirements

    Average Water

  • Habit

    Clump-Forming

  • Seasonal Interest

    Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter

Ornamental Features

  • Flower Interest

    Showy

  • Flower Color

    White, Light Yellow

  • Fruit Color

    Yellow, Green, Gold

  • Foliage Color (Spring)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Summer)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Fall)

    Green

  • Foliage Color (Winter)

    Green

  • Fragrant Flowers

    Yes

  • 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

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

  • Sharp or Has Thorns

    Yes

  • Invasive

    No

  • Attracts

    Hummingbirds

  • Self-Sowing

    No