Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tender Perennial
Tender Perennial
Origin
Southern Africa
India
Types
Perennial
Scarlet banana, Fe'i bananas
Number of Varieties
501
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
tropical environments, Tropical regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-107-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
10-8
-
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
61.30 cm365.76 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
30.50 cm243.84 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
White, Yellow, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Brown
Pink, Violet
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Gray Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Gray Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Gray Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Grass like
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Seedlings, Transplanting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Needs watering once a week, occasional watering once established, Requires watering in the growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Apply 8-10-8 amounts
Pests and Diseases
Nematodes, Scale
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Medium
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Insects, Spider Mites
Allergy
Skin irritation
Itchiness, Rash
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Skin cleanser
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Ethnobotanic
Air purification, Food for birds
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
-
Heals minor burns
Part of Plant Used
Root
Fruits, Root
Other Uses
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Bedding Plant, Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Tropical
Botanical Name
DIETES bicolor
MUSA velutina
Common Name
African iris, Fortnight lily
Banana, Hairy Banana, Pink Banana
In Hindi
African Iris
गुलाबी केले
In German
Afrikanische Iris
rosa Banana
In French
African Iris
rose Banana
In Spanish
Iris africano
Pink plátano
In Greek
Αφρικανική Iris
ροζ Μπανάνα
In Portuguese
Iris africano
Banana -de-rosa
In Polish
Afryki Iris
różowy Banana
In Latin
African Iris
Pink Banana
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Vascular plant
Class
Magnoliopsida
Liliopsida
Order
Asparagales
Zingiberales
Family
Iridaceae
Musaceae
Genus
Dietes
-
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Irideae
-
Subfamily
Iridoideae
-
Number of Species
30070
1
27800
👆🏻