Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Tender Perennial
  
Flowering Plants, Fruits, Herbs
  
Origin
Southeastern Asia, India, Melanesia, Micronesia
  
Australia, Tropical Indomalaya
  
Types
Variegata Dwarf, Variegata Chinese Beauty
  
Cavendish Bananas, Lady Finger Bananas, Pisang Raja, Williams Bananas, Cooking Bananas
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Tropical regions
  
Subtropical climates, Tropical rainforest, Tropical regions
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-15
  
8-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-5
  
12-6
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Clump-Forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Red, Light Pink
  
Burgandy, Ivory, Purple, White, Yellow
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Red, Yellow, Yellow Brown, Yellow green
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Lance shaped
  
Cone shaped
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Fall, Spring, Summer
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loamy
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer
  
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Spring, Late Summer, Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Not Available
  
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
By dividing rhizomes, tubers
  
From bulbs
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Requires plenty of water during the growing season
  
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
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
  
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loamy
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Cut off the flower stalks at the base of the plant, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Prune after harvesting, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
Apply 8-4-6 amount
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Anthracnose, Banana aphid, Banana mosaic, Black sigatoka, Bunchy top, Cigar end rot, Coconut scale, Moko disease, Panama disease, Rhizome rot, Yellow sigatoka
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Coarse
  
Bold
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
Yes
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Butterflies, Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Allergy
Rash
  
Anaphylaxis, Mouth itching, Throat itching
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
  
Not Used For Aesthetic Purpose
  
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic, Hypotensive
  
Anemia, Antioxidants, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Hangover, Heartburn, High blood pressure, Kidney problems, Menstrual Disorders
  
Part of Plant Used
Leaves, Rhizomes
  
Flowers, Fruits
  
Other Uses
Can be made into a herbal tea, Leaves used for wrapping zongi, Used to flavour noodles, Used to wrap mochi rice cakes
  
Pulp can be used to make rope place mats and other goods, Used As Food, Used in paper industry
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Cutflower, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
  
Showy Tree
  
Botanical Name
ALPINIA zerumbet
  
Banana Tree
  
Common Name
Shell Ginger
  
Banana Tree
  
In Hindi
Shell Ginger
  
केले के पेड़
  
In German
Shell Ginger
  
Bananenbaum
  
In French
Shell Ginger
  
Bananier
  
In Spanish
Shell jengibre
  
Banano
  
In Greek
Shell Τζίντζερ
  
μπανανιά
  
In Portuguese
Shell Ginger
  
árvore de banana
  
In Polish
Shell Imbir
  
Banana drzewa
  
In Latin
Crusta Ginger
  
Musa sapientum fixa ligno
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Lilopsida
  
Liliopsida
  
Order
Zingiberales
  
Zingiberales
  
Family
Zingiberaceae
  
Banana
  
Genus
Alpinia
  
Musa
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
  
Monocotyledonous
  
Tribe
Alpinieae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Alpinioideae
  
Not Available
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Importance of Shell Ginger and Banana Tree
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Shell Ginger and Banana Tree. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Shell Ginger and Banana Tree 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 Shell Ginger is Antiulcerogenic, Diuretic and Hypotensive whereas of Banana Tree is Anemia, Antioxidants, Bronchitis, Diarrhea, Hangover, Heartburn, High blood pressure, Kidney problems and Menstrual Disorders. Shell Ginger has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin while Banana Tree has beauty benefits as follows: Good for skin.
Compare Facts of Shell Ginger vs Banana Tree
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 Shell Ginger vs Banana Tree 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 Shell Ginger are Rash whereas of Banana Tree have Anaphylaxis, Mouth itching and Throat itching respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Shell Ginger has no showy fruits and Banana Tree has showy fruits. Also Shell Ginger is not flowering and Banana Tree is flowering. You can compare Shell Ginger and Banana Tree facts and facts of other plants too.