Banana, Dwarf 'Dwarf Cavendish' Small

This dwarf banana has beautiful chestnut-brown markings on its leaves (especially when young) and also produces delicious, small bananas with a thin yellow peel. The variety is named after William Cavendish (the 6th Duke of Devonshire) who brought this banana to Europe and successfully propagated it from his greenhouses in England. In the tropics (in open ground), the plants grow to about 2 m tall; other bananas from this family can easily grow to over 7 m in height. When grown in a large pot, the plants are somewhat more compact and therefore suitable for growing as houseplants. Before fruit appears, large purple and white flowers grow on the plant. Subsequently, the 25 cm large bananas appear on the flower stalk. After fruiting, the plant will die, but the new shoots at the base of the plants can grow into new mature specimens. Keep the plants above +10ºC and preferably in a sunny spot. Plants can be placed outdoors in summer, but keep them out of the wind, as the leaves tear easily and that is not very attractive. Strictly speaking, bananas are not considered fruit but rather general edible produce, as the plant is not a tree (it is not woody), but falls under perennial, herbaceous plants.

Names:
Latin: Musa acuminata
Dutch: Dwergbanaan
Also known as: Dwarf Cavendish
English: Dwarf Banana