Blood Banana is a tropical Musa acuminata selection prized as much for its dramatic ornamental foliage as for its edible fruit. This evergreen perennial grows 5 to 6 feet tall in most gardens, producing enormous paddle-shaped leaves that create an unmistakably exotic presence. Hardy in zones 9, 11, it thrives in full sun with consistent moisture and moderate care, rewarding gardeners with both lush green canopy and seasonal fruit production. In colder climates, it transitions easily to container growing or can be dug and stored over winter.
Full Sun
Moderate
9-11
72in H x 72in W
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High
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Blood Banana earns its name from deeply colored foliage and bracts that give this plant genuine tropical drama without requiring a true tropical climate. The huge leaves, reaching up to 10 feet long in ideal conditions, unfurl with a richness that transforms any landscape into something jungle-like. Fruit production happens reliably in warm zones, and the plant's tolerance for part shade in extreme heat makes it more adaptable than you might expect for a banana.
Blood Banana serves dual roles in the garden. Gardeners in warm climates grow it for actual fruit harvest, enjoying the edible bananas it produces seasonally. More broadly, especially in colder regions where it's grown in containers or as a houseplant, it functions as a living sculpture, its dramatic foliage delivering tropical atmosphere year-round.
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Plant outdoors after the last frost date in your zone, in organically enriched soil. Space plants 5, 6 feet from structures and other plants to accommodate their mature spread.
Bananas mature seasonally on Blood Banana plants. Harvest fruit bunches when the individual bananas begin to lose their angular edges and round out slightly, typically when they shift from deep green toward a lighter green or yellow tint. Cut the entire fruit hand or individual bananas with a sharp knife, leaving the main plant trunk intact to produce additional fruit clusters.
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