Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Hi!
I just bought what is called in the description of the banana a "thai black stem banana). The only banana I know related to this name is the Thai black banana. I have a few questions about this banana and any help is really really appreciated!!

First is this "thai black stem banana" the same as a "thai black banana" and is a "thai black banana" the same as Musa balbisiana??

Also how rare is this banana?

And how cold tolerant is this banana? I hear Musa balbisiana can survive down to a zone 7.

What is the growth rate of this banana?

Does it grow too fast for pots or will pots stunt its growth? (I would prefer it to grow to its full potential).

Lastly is the fruit edible?

Sorry for asking so many questions, but I want to know as much about it as possible so I can let it grow to its full potential when it arrives.
Ill post a pic if it helps w/ the ID of this plant.
Thanks in advance for any help you can give me or personal experiences with this banana.
No matter what Im Happy I got it :) :woohoonaner:

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Good evening Palmtree,

From my experience they have leaf and pseudostem damage at 31 degrees F. They do came back in the spring from the corm, and from the pseudostem. I cannot answer the other questions from experience.

Best wishes and good growing! :2239:

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

There is no official way to deem if different names are the same plant, but chances are that those two names refer to the same plant. It is definitely a type of M. balbisiana, but is not synonymous with M. balbisiana. There are many many different forms of M. balbisiana, this is just one.

It's rather new to the market but easy to obtain, so not generally rare.

M. balbisiana tends to be rather drought and cold hardy species, but there are many different varieties which can act differently.

Probably fairly standard given normal conditions.

Unless your pot is so large that is simulates planting in the ground, containers will always restrict growth. The only practical way to have it be at its full potential is to have it in the ground and allow it grow without or with very little stopping pretty much all year. Anything less will result in lesser growth, but not necessarily unimpressive growth, it still may turn out to be a very nice plant.

No, not in the sense that the term "edible" is used with bananas. If it flowers, it will either not set at all or be filled with seeds depending on many factors.

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Thank you both for your comments. Okay, so now I understand that is is not simply musa balbisiana but a variety. From what I have been reading from most websites it a zone 8 plant soI wouldnt risk a mother plant in the ground or the pups unless given protection. I think I will plant it in the ground for the summer so it reaches its full potential. Too bad its not edible but I dont grow my bananas for fruit here (but I would love some!)

Thanks a lot for your help!!
Good luck :)

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Here it is!


Its been very windy so its hard to get a good pic. Its also getting dark outside, but I guess its good enough to give you an idea of what it looks like.

Thanks again for your help!

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Very nice, you should ground plant! It will become root bound in that pot in a month or so.

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Thanks!
I figured it was going to get pot bound fast so Im not sure if its going to stay in the pot permanently. I wish I had a great spot to put it in the ground but most of them are taken by other plants. But Im going to see how it goes in the pot and in a month or so, I should have a good idea of the growth rate. I want it to get to a really nice height and Im not sure if thats possible in a pot.
Do you think keeping it in a pot for a year will permanantly stunt its growth or will it grow out of it if taken into the ground?

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Well, In time it would recover, but it will be greatly limited in height and speed being in a pot. How big do you want it? Full grown?
I understand your dilemma I had to draw out and plan where everything was going this year. If you want good growth out of it I would cram it somewhere in the ground, in full sun and let her go.

From what I think you want...Well it sounds like you might end up being disappointed leaving it in a pot.
I would not leave it potted unless you were going to be working with something like 45+ gallons. Which is not an easy task to move.
And even that would not see the size or speed it could get in the ground.

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Thanks! I do have one spot in the ground where it can go that gets a pretty good amount of sun but it would be shaded by other plants until it gets another foot or 2 taller so Ill leave it in a pot until june or so and then after that Im hoping it will be big enough to go into the ground. If anyone else has any suggestions or experience with this banana, I would greatly appreciate it. I will definitely update its progress.

Thanks again!!

Re: Musa balbisiana (thai black banana)
 

Hi everyone, I live in NJ & grew blk. Thai in the ground last summer. It grew so fast. I never saw anything like it. People were amazed. I just ordered two more from Oasis
tropical plants and trees (ebay). They will be here around March 7th. I forgot to mention the last ones grew about 15ft tall by about 1st of Nov. The pseudo stem turned
a good strong gray color. Also produced pups. I will post pictures in the photo gallery.