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Rare Banana Seeds

I have received some banana seeds from unique species and want to make them available to rarefruiters.

These seeded bananas are generally not considered edible, but all of these, EXCEPT Musa textilis, have a sweet flesh when fully ripe. Since they are full of hard seeds you must be careful as you can break a tooth!

The varieties are:

Musa textilis which grows to about 5 meters high. Due its fibers it has been used for many commodities like ropes and fabric. It is the largest and most common of the group. Select thumbnail for larger image.
Musa beccarii which only reaches about 1.5 meters high. It is highly ornamental red inflorescence or "flower" and could be grown and flowering easily in containers. Select thumbnail for larger image.
Musa lawitiensis reaches about 1.5 - 2 meters high. It is heliconia type ornamental banana. As far as I know it has never been tested in containers. Select thumbnail for larger image.
Musa campestris (variety 1, hot pink flower) reaches about 1.5 meters high. It is highly ornamental with a hot pink inflorescence or "flower" and green fruit. It should be tried in containers. Select thumbnail for larger image.
Musa campestris (variety 2, purple and white flower) reaches about 1.5 meters plant. It is highly ornamental with a pale inflorescence or "flower" trimmed in purple. The fruit are also purple and white. It should be tried in containers. I have never seen a banana coloured quite like this one, all five are unique but this one stands above the rest. Select thumbnail for larger image.
SOLD OUT for now

While I have some of each I want to sell these as a collection or set. Order a packet of each variety (5 seeds in a packet) for a total of 25 seeds. Priced at US$14.75. I've seen the much more common Musa velutina and M. zebrina go for almost a dollar a seed but have placed these well below that as I want to see them in collections. No postage to USA addresses.

Follow either link above to make your purchase.

Germinating Directions

The seeds are dormant now which means that the oil / liquid chamber has dried up and they will float in water. The seeds remain viable for years. There are several methods for germination: First to soak the seeds 48 hours and let them absorb some moisture. Then the seeds should be sown into proper planting media which is then kept moist, but not water logged. Keep the media in light, warm place.

Another method is to put them into plastic (zip) bags with media / vermiculite or folded in a coffee filter. Again one should provide warm temperatures, light and moisture (not too damp).

Note: Do NOT scarify (break / scrape) the seed coat.

Media: A mix of perlite, vermiculite should work. For seeds like this I like to use 2 parts peat, 1 part perlite and 1 part vermiculite. Any well drained, sterile growing media should work. I usually add some mycorrhiza to my seed mixes - since these can take so long to germinate I may make a second application after 3 months or so. The pH tolerance seems to be good.

The germination is very irregular. It might take from one week up to two years for all the seeds to come up. Many of these seeds have been started in this way with good results.

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