PlantFiles: Banana
Musa acuminata 'Rajapuri'

I'm a beginner banana grower and this plant was most rewarding.

By just supplying water with fertilizer once in a while, it performs very well and grows fast.

It stands up to wind very well. I haven't noticed a lot of insect problems either.

This hybrid is highly susceptible to one of many banana diseases plaguing South Florida and the humid tropics. Not recommended. Some have had success, but it's only a matter of time until theirs are affected as well.

I started with one 'Rajapuri' (banana) plant, then all of a sudden I noticed a two baby plants growing 12" from the original plant. Maybe it seeded?? It is 7 yrs old, 9 feet high, leaves are 4'-6' long. It blooms in early June, harvest July. Grows under oak trees part shade/sun. Apopka, Fl area. It hardy in humid/heat/rain. Not hardy 33 degrees or below.
The plant freezes at 32 degrees. I cover the plant with sheets to protect it, but top leaves can be 9'-12' high and hard to cover. Just cover the stalk and pin the sheets around all leaves that you can. This will save the plant and you can still have bananas to harvest in spring/summer.

Musa 'Rajapuri' (sometimes spelled also 'Rajahpuri') is one of the popular cold hardy bananas.

This produces an edible, good tasting banana in only 9 months, compared with 18 months for most varieties other varieties.

This reaches a height of about 6'/8', but it is twice as wide due to the gigantic green leaves.