Dwarf Cavendish
| Scientific Name | Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish' (AAA Group) |
|---|---|
| Mature Height | 5-9 feet |
| USDA Zones | 9-11 (indoors anywhere) |
| Fruit | Yes — sweet dessert banana, 6-10 inches |
| Cold Hardy | No — damaged below 28°F |
| Type | Fruiting |
The Dwarf Cavendish is the most widely grown banana variety for home gardeners and is the plant most people picture when they think of a banana plant. Its manageable size makes it suitable for smaller yards, patios, and even indoor growing. The fruit is the classic sweet banana you find in grocery stores, though home-grown specimens tend to have more flavor than their commercial counterparts.
This variety produces a compact pseudostem with broad, dark green leaves that can reach 4 feet in length. The leaves sometimes develop reddish-brown blotches, which is a normal characteristic and not a sign of disease. Under good conditions, a Dwarf Cavendish can produce a bunch of 80 to 100 individual bananas.
Growing Conditions
Dwarf Cavendish needs full sun, rich and well-draining soil, and consistent moisture. It is one of the best varieties for indoor growing because of its compact size, and it does very well in containers. In zones 9b through 11, it can be grown outdoors year-round. In zone 9a and below, it needs to be brought inside or heavily protected in winter (see Overwintering).
Feed regularly with a potassium-rich fertilizer during the growing season. See Fertilizing Guide for specific recommendations. Water deeply when the top inch of soil is dry — typically every 2 to 3 days in summer. More details at Watering Guide.
Time to Fruit
Expect 9 to 15 months from planting a good-sized pup to first fruit, assuming warm conditions and adequate nutrition. See How Long Do Banana Plants Take to Fruit? for more detail. Harvest when the ridges on the fruit begin to round out (see When to Harvest).
Propagation
Dwarf Cavendish produces pups freely and is easily propagated by dividing suckers from the mother plant. Tissue culture plants are also widely available from nurseries.
Common Issues
Watch for spider mites when growing indoors, and Black Sigatoka in humid outdoor environments. Yellowing leaves usually indicate a watering or nutrient problem.