This title would have attracted the ire of palm purists! Now, before I get shot point blank, I've got to say the Banana is a Banana fullstop. It's neither a palm nor a tree. I have since learnt that fact despite my early ignorance based on it's 'palm' look. It does not have a woody trunk, instead, the fibrous tiered stem we see is made up of bases of many layers of overlapping petioles.
While out walking around the lake at Setia Eco Park, Shah Alam found an eye catching large clump of the miniature or dwarf bananas. They look very 'cute' compared to the larger, edible species and added an amazing accent to those huge open spaces especially with yellow butterflies flitting around.
In the tropics, bananas thrive vigorously. It's as much a boon as a bane growing this. Its the easiest to grow, nearly maintenance free (except for clearing the die backs) and enjoy that lovely tropical aura in one's home or garden. However, it needs ample space to expand and its long thin root system with suckers could be deep and far reaching, when time for clearing out!
Noticed the lush long and ribbed light green foliage really quite a spectacle when the sun lit through. They're smooth and waxy to the touch. If grown in wind blown areas, the leaves have higher tendency to split.
The dwarf pink species bear a large, single pink flower on a long stalk and the petals open up to reveal pink to reddish fruits which are seeded and inedible.
The dwarf species are usually about 3-5 feet high and can be planted in a 'controlled environment' like containers for its ornamental tropical effect without them getting too out of hand unless space isn't a constraint.
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