Bananas grow from a large herbaceous perennial plant that is often mistaken for a tree but is actually a giant herb. The plant grows from an underground rhizome or corm, not from seeds. New banana plants develop from bulbs or suckers (also called pups) that grow around the base of the parent plant
. The banana plant has a pseudostem made of tightly packed leaf stalks, which supports the large leaves and the flower stalk. The plant grows rapidly, sometimes up to 1.6 meters (5.2 feet) per day, and typically reaches heights between 3 to 7 meters (10 to 23 feet), depending on the variety
. After about 9 to 12 months of growth, the banana plant produces a flower spike (inflorescence) that emerges from the top of the pseudostem. The flower contains rows of female flowers that develop into the banana fruit, and male flowers that appear later. The fruit grows in clusters called "hands," with each individual banana called a "finger." Bananas usually develop without pollination (parthenocarpic), so seeds are not formed in edible varieties
. Once the bananas mature, the pseudostem dies, but new shoots from the rhizome continue the growth cycle, making the plant perennial. Bananas require warm, humid tropical conditions with temperatures ideally between 78°F to 86°F (26°C to 30°C), plenty of water with good drainage, and rich soil to thrive
. In summary, bananas grow by:
- Developing from underground rhizomes or suckers, not seeds.
- Growing a tall pseudostem made of leaf stalks.
- Producing a flower spike that bears fruit clusters.
- Fruits developing without pollination.
- The mother plant dying after fruiting, while new shoots continue growth
