Above: A variegated Musa.

I never knew I that I would take it this far, and for so long and without telling much of anybody. I was blinded by passion, as my heart was set ablaze by something I was formerly so terrified of, but now I have come to eventually ravish… What I'm talking about here is the banana plant (Musa acuminata and its cultivars and relatives), not some steamy temptress. Traditionally believed to harbor spirits that tempted men and attacked pregnant women, this plant is soon shedding its diabolical image for a more dignified yet enigmatic one of mystique, grace and splendor. With the new colonial look 'in', this surely is the hallmark of society, abundance and wealth. Step into Raffles Hotel and we see the banana emblazoned onto the walls outside Jubilee Hall - forever encapsulated within murals of fading grandeur that depict a golden age. The plants even feature prominently in the institutions' planting scheme.

THE USEFULNESS OF THE BANANA PLANT

But with all that aside, we must merit the banana plant (it is not a tree for its true stem (its rhizome) is in fact underground and it is indeed a giant herbaceous plant) for its physical attributes and qualities that have made it such a landscaping sensation. This is not an ethno botanical treatise and as such, uses of the fruit, fibers etc will not be discussed here.

Above left & right: The splashes of white akin to swirls of milk in the leaves of the variegated banana. Above centre: The rosette growing habit of Musa.

With leaves often described as paddle-shaped, they not only form an interesting rosette canopy for a rather unassuming, fleshy truck but also provide shade for plants growing beneath. The smooth texture of banana leaves is mesmerizing, with glistening water droplets rolling and bouncing off them, sliding across the bananas' slippery cuticle during a light afternoon drizzle. All these make micro pictures that an immaculate planting scheme would provide, with myriad elements of interest. Sunbirds too enjoy bathing in the fleeting pools of rainwater that collect on the leaves. But alas, it's the fresh green foliage that makes this plant stand out amidst the other less invigorating greens that tropical landscape embraces. Not plants for gusty areas, its leaves get shredded easily and quickly when under attack by rogue winds.

Above: The fruiting inflorescence of the banana plant.

Often becoming a conversation piece, the whole fruiting inflorescence of the banana plant is surely a sight to behold with fruits in various stages of maturity and equally dramatic banana heart to match. These circumstances also attract wildlife like birds, squirrels and bats that add movement and much needed dynamism to a sedentary garden of plants.

THE BANANA'S DRAWBACKS

But the plant also has its demerits. The need to continually remove old stems that have become jaded after flowering (similar to Heliconia) is an arduous task, and sprucing up clumps by removing dead matter and stripping off some fibrous layers from the stem is equally painstaking. Some species of banana, under certain circumstances, may also prove to err on the edge of becoming invasive or 'too chucky' for a lighter scheme. The leaf axils also tend to trap water and detritus which could become a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Also, the accumulation of detritus spells the advent of slugs and snails in the vicinity of the banana plant, putting surrounding vegetation at their mercy.

Moreover, bananas are gross feeders requiring copious amounts of fertilizer (preferably of the organic bone meal sort) too keep them robust and healthy.

VARIETIES OF BANANA

Generally divided into two categories, the classification of bananas consist edible and ornamental bananas. Among the edible bananas there is a further categorization of both fruiting and cooking bananas.

Above left: Musa ornata Above right: Musa velutina Below left: Musa acuminata x balbisiana cv. 'Pisang Seribu' Below right: Musa laterita

Ornamental bananas are the current rage of landscaping. Musa sumatrana, with its lanky form and burgundy foliage, gives a dramatic accent to any bed of greens. The very similar Musa ornata and Musa velutina both produce upright lotus-like bracts, but it's the display of pink fruits that makes Musa velutina showier. Musa coccinea, although not as common as the aforementioned species, is also a must-have for its orange-red bracts that scream for attention. The Pisang Raja is a revered fruiting banana commonly grown here.

Other bananas of interest are the Thousand Finger Banana famed for its remarkable fruiting inflorescence of over 500, albeit small, fruits and the Ae Ae Banana which is prized (and priced highly too!) for its lovely variegation akin to swirls of milk.

With all that said…Grab a banana today!