Mutant flower
 

Hi, I live in Hawaii and I have what I believe to be Williams bananas growing in my yard. In the past it hardly gave any fruit and a couple of years back I started giving it some care. Added a lot of mulch, regular applications of fertilizer and regular watering. My efforts were rewarded with a bunch last year and two flowers appearing in May.

The bunches were not huge with 4-6 hands and not very big bananas. I just harvested the first bunch from May the other day and I happened to notice a huge flower. The flowers have been pinkish or purplish in past but this new flower is more green and about three times bigger than past flowers. The stalk to the flower is also huge or at least double of the past stalks. I just discovered this morning another huge flower starting to peak out.

Is this because of the extra care or is it some mutation? If the flower size is any indication the bananas should be huge! I hope it's not some non-fruiting "male" flower...

Thanks!

Re: Mutant flower
 

Pix?

Re: Mutant flower
 

The other flowers had been about 6-8" long and pink or purple. This is one is green and over a foot long.

Re: Mutant flower
 

The size is about right. The green sheathing appears to be separating. I believe the emerging bud will be purple.

Re: Mutant flower
 

You post was spot on. I took a look yesterday afternoon and it open up revealing the normal colored petals though more than double the usual size. I guess I never saw it at that stage in the past.

It looks like the plant is thankful for the extra care as I can now see banana fingers that are at least double what I have seen in the past. It looks like a lot more hands too. I better go cut some very long sticks... I think I am going to need to prop up the plant!

Thanks!