Dwarf Cavendish Banana Plant

The dwarf Cavendish banana plant can grow up to 7 feet tall.

Although more than 1,000 types of bananas exist worldwide, the Cavendish variety is the one you are most likely to find in U.S. grocery stores, according to Dan Koeppel, author of "Banana: The Fate of the Fruit That Changed the World." The dwarf Cavendish banana is a smaller version of that common fruit and a popular greenhouse and house plant.

History

The dwarf Cavendish banana plant originated in China, Julia F. Martin writes in "Fruits of Warm Climates."

Time Frame

Flowers can appear on the dwarf Cavendish plant in any season. Expect to wait about 100 days for the fruit to mature.

Size

The plant grows 4 to 7 feet tall, compared to more than 10 feet for the giant Cavendish variety. Each bunch of fruit can yield 150 to 200 medium-size bananas.

Considerations

Although the dwarf Cavendish banana plant can stand up to windy conditions, it is sensitive to cold. The fruit skins are thin, so the bananas must be handled with care.

Warning

A strain of a fungal disease called Panama disease is threatening Cavendish varieties in Asia, according to Koeppel. The bananas had been resistant to earlier strains.

Conditions

You can grow dwarf Cavendish plants in 8-inch pots, indoors or outdoors. Keep the temperature above 57 degrees. The dwarf Cavendish plant needs fertile, well-drained soil and frequent watering.

References

• The New York Times: Yes, We Will Have No Bananas
• Purdue University: Morton, J.; Banana
• Plant of the Week: Musa acuminata

Resources

• Peakland Heritage.org: The Banana