Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs
  
Succulent
  
Origin
Australia, Tropical Indomalaya
  
Southern Africa
  
Types
Cavendish Bananas, Lady Finger Bananas, Pisang Raja, Williams Bananas, Cooking Bananas
  
Limpopo, Prostrata, Aurea, Medio Picta
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Subtropical climates, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
  
Dry areas, Lower slopes, Rocky areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
10-12
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-6
  
10-1
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Twisted/Contorted
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Burgandy, Ivory, Purple, White, Yellow
  
Pink
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Red, Yellow, Yellow Brown, Yellow green
  
Green, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Cone shaped
  
Succulent
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Fall, Spring, Summer
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loamy
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
  
Late Spring
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Not Available
  
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Where to Plant?
Ground
  
Container, Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
From bulbs
  
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Allow soil to be completely dry in between waterings, It cannot sustain wet-feet, Requires regular watering, Water every two or three days during warmer months
  
Average Water Needs, Needs less watering
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Ample Water
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Less Watering
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Less Watering
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loamy
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune after harvesting, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Fertilize in early spring, Fertilize late winter
  
Pests and Diseases
Anthracnose, Banana aphid, Banana mosaic, Black sigatoka, Bunchy top, Cigar end rot, Coconut scale, Moko disease, Panama disease, Rhizome rot, Yellow sigatoka
  
Pests and diseases free
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought, Dry soil, Heat Tolerance
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Bold
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
Yes
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
No
  
No
  
Attracts
Not Available
  
Butterflies
  
Allergy
Anaphylaxis, Mouth itching, Throat itching
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beautification, Bonsai, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Good for skin, Improve skin condition, Skin cleanser, Skin inflammation, Skin irritation, Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification, Erosion control, Food for birds, Indoor Air Purification, Prevent Soil Erosion, Shelter for wildlife, Wildlife
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anemia, Antioxidants, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Hangover, Heartburn, High blood pressure, Kidney problems, Menstrual Disorders
  
Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation, Sore throat
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Fruits
  
Leaves, Stem
  
Other Uses
Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used As Food, Used in paper industry
  
Animal Feed, Showy Purposes, Used As Food, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties, Used in salads
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Showy Tree
  
Container, Rock Garden, Wall, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
Banana Tree
  
PORTULACARIA afra
  
Common Name
Banana Tree
  
Porkbush, Dwarf jade plant, Spekboom
  
In Hindi
केले के पेड़
  
Elephant Bush
  
In German
Bananenbaum
  
Elephant Bush
  
In French
Bananier
  
Elephant Bush
  
In Spanish
Banano
  
elefante Bush
  
In Greek
μπανανιά
  
ελέφαντας Μπους
  
In Portuguese
árvore de banana
  
elefante de Bush
  
In Polish
Banana drzewa
  
Elephant Bush
  
In Latin
Musa sapientum fixa ligno
  
bush elephant
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Embryophyta
  
Class
Liliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Zingiberales
  
Caryophyllales
  
Family
Banana
  
Portulacaceae
  
Genus
Musa
  
Portulacaria
  
Clade
Monocotyledonous
  
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Portulacarioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Importance of Banana Tree and Elephant Bush
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Banana Tree and Elephant Bush. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Banana Tree and Elephant Bush as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Banana Tree is Anemia, Antioxidants, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Hangover, Heartburn, High blood pressure, Kidney problems and Menstrual Disorders whereas of Elephant Bush is Dehydration, Diabetes, Skin Disorders, Skin irritation and Sore throat. Banana Tree has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available while Elephant Bush has beauty benefits as follows: Not Available.
Compare Facts of Banana Tree vs Elephant Bush
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Banana Tree vs Elephant Bush and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Banana Tree are Anaphylaxis, Mouth itching and Throat itching whereas of Elephant Bush have no allergic reactions respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Banana Tree has showy fruits and Elephant Bush has no showy fruits. Also Banana Tree is flowering and Elephant Bush is not flowering . You can compare Banana Tree and Elephant Bush facts and facts of other plants too.