Growing Guide: Blue Java Banana

Scientific Name Musa ‘Blue Java’
Common Names Blue Java Banana, Ice Cream Banana
Family Musaceae (Banana Family)
Origin Southeast Asia (cultivar)
Plant Type Perennial Fruiting Banana Tree
Life Cycle Perennial
Food Forest Layer Herbaceous / Canopy Layer
Mature Size 12–20 ft tall
Light Full Sun
Water Needs Moderate to High (loves consistent moisture)
Harvest Season Late Summer to Fall (depending on region)
Time to Fruit 12–24 months after planting (warm zones)
Self-Fertile Yes
Growth Rate Very Fast
Zones USDA Zones 8b–11
Florida Native No
Propagation Tissue Culture, Pups
Seasonal Characteristics Evergreen in warm zones; may die back in cold winters but regrows from roots