Bunches of success

Bananas (Musa spp.) are the world’s largest herbaceous plant, and botanically their fruit is considered a berry! A banana trunk is made up of tightly rolled leaves, called a pseudostem (false stem). The real ‘stem’ is underground, in a structure called a rhizome or corm. The rhizome produces ‘pups’ or ‘suckers’ that eventually flower and set fruit.

Varieties

We all know Cavendish and Lady Fingers from the supermarket, which are great warm-climate options, but there are a few other varieties that are worth a shot, too.

Tropical/Subtropical

Red Dacca: Maroon skin with sweet creamy flesh.
Ducasse: Tiny, thin-skinned fruit with a rich, sweeter flavour.

Cooler Climates

Blue Java: Best cold-tolerant variety with unique blue-green skin when unripe. Flavour reminiscent of vanilla ice-cream.
Gold finger: Small fruit, with excellent disease and wind resistance.

Bananas range in height from 3–5m, depending on variety and growing conditions. Keep an eye out for dwarf and super-dwarf options: they make harvesting and management significantly easier and are your best choice for pots. The super dwarf Cavendish maxes out around 1.5m.

Top tip

Typically, home gardeners no longer need a permit to grow bananas but you may need to source plants from registered suppliers. Different growing regulations apply depending on your location so check with the supplier and your local or state government what is relevant for your region before you plant bananas.

For more growing ideas, get a copy of the Early Spring 2026 issue on sale at newsagents and selected supermarkets. Subscribe to the magazine today!