Banana 'Dwarf Orinoco' (Musa acuminata)
The Dwarf Orinoco Banana Tree reaches all the heights of a great banana without stretching its trunk to any great height, only climbing an average of 6-10 ft. tall. This dwarf Musa sports cold tolerance to zones as low as 7b, far colder than the average banana.
The easy-maintenance Orinoco grows best in full sun but will tolerate up to 30% shade under ideal conditions. It is a vigorous grower, sporting a thick trunk and an ability to fruit within a year. Visually, it is identifiable by its entirely green trunk. You can anticipate finding fruit bunches of up to 5 ‘hands’ of 6-inch long, angular bananas.
The Venezuela-native Orinoco creates outstanding fruit which ripens without splitting, thanks to its extra-thick skin. Those outstanding fruits can be heavy on the dwarf tree, so ensure to give it support when carrying large heads of fruit! Biting into a ripe Orinoco bears a silky, sweet experience with a hint of a strawberry undertone. You can eat it out of hand during its starchy green-yellow stage or ripen it to banana-bread brightness to experience its ideal sweetness. The Orinoco is a favorite for frying due to its ideal firmness.
But don’t just take our word for it, fry up some home-grown fritters of your own!
Plant Type:
Fruit Tree / Evergreen Perennial Herb
Did you know? The banana plant is actually an evergreen perennial fruiting herb, not a tree! The large ‘trunk’ is actually a pseudostem, which is made of bulky, leafy layers that emerge and wither over time. Banana plants are fast-growing, and prone to reproducing new plants through mini clones known as suckers.
Harvest Season:
Year-round, but most predominantly in the warm summer months. With good care, bananas are capable of producing fruit within the first 15-18 months of planting. It will take 9-15 months before the tree starts flowering and an additional 2-6 months before the bananas are ready to be picked.
(Expect approximately 3-6 months less time from planting to fruit for Banana plants in our XL Pot Size)
Mature Size:
Really varies depending on variety. Some dwarf banana varieties grow only to 2-3 ft where other banana types reach up to 40 ft tall. Most banana plants can be grown easily in containers and overwintered indoors if needed. We recommend a minimum 7 gal. planter size.
Banana plants are fast-growing, and prone to reproducing new plants through mini clones known as suckers.
Soil & Moisture:
Thrives in ample humidity! Bananas like to be planted high on a mound in rich, moist well-drained soil, nitrogen-rich soil, and humid conditions similar to their native areas tropical and subtropical regions. In well-drained soil, bananas can almost never get too much water, sunlight, and nutrients. Water regularly to maintain leaves and promote fruit production.
Light Requirements:
Full Sun, Part Shade
Self-Fertile:
Yes
Growth Rate:
Fast, Very Fast
Zone Hardiness:
Outdoors 9-11 with frost protection; Patio/Greenhouse 4+
Propagation:
Our bananas are grown from tissue cultures and are capable of fruiting within 1 year.
