I have never regretted since I started growing different types of bananas in my backyard garden. Besides that, these banana varieties are so diverse in shape, taste, and uses.
Understanding these banana types will help you find the perfect species for your culinary and ornamental uses. From plantains to baby bananas, let’s dive into the article.
Different Types of Bananas
Bananas are so versatile since they are crucial ingredients in smoothies and toppings for popular ice creams. These tropical plants are widely cultivated across the world.
We have around 1000 varieties of bananas coming in different sizes, shapes, and colors. Here is the list of 30 types of bananas imported into the United States from Latin America:
Plantains
Plantains are also called green bananas (Musa paradisiaca). These special bananas are starchy and non-flavorful compared to other traditional varieties.
We recommend cooking these green bananas before they ripen fully. Frying and boiling are the best cooking methods due to the hard and firm texture of the fruit.
You can also leave your plantains to ripe, though the flesh lacks the sweetness of dessert bananas. The green peel will become soft and turn green-yellow.
Plantains are a staple diet in the Caribbean, West Africa, and Southeast Asia. East African Highland bananas are not plantains despite being used in the same way.
Cavendish
The banana type is native to Southeast Asia and belongs to Musa acuminate species. It is quite common in many grocery stores in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
Immature Cavendish bananas are green and turn bright yellow with black or brown spots when they ripen. They are sold while still slightly green and take a few days to ripen.
Popular Cavendish banana cultivars are dwarf Cavendish, giant Cavendish, grade naine, and Williams. Both cultivars have sweet tastes ideal for making desserts.
The ripe soft flesh is eaten raw and is not ideal for cooking. If you want to experience intensive sweetness, allow the bananas to turn brown fully.
Red Bananas
Red bananas (Red Decca) have red skin with creamy pink flesh. These banana cultivars are smaller, sweeter, and softer than their Cavendish counterparts.
We also have some types of red bananas that are larger than their traditional counterparts. These banana varieties are classified by the region where they are grown.
Examples are Red Spanish, Red Cuban, and Red Colorado bananas. We recommend allowing these bananas to ripen fully before eating them.
Unripe red bananas have an unpalatable chalky texture and taste. Ripe red bananas have reddish-purple skin. You can eat them raw, bake them, or toast them to create hot sweet desserts.
Burro Bananas
These are yellow banana species that are shorter and chunkier than their Cavendish counterparts. They have a square shape and stumpy appearance.
Burro bananas have dark green flesh that turns deep yellow when they ripen. Unripe burro bananas have a tangy taste and firm texture.
The dense texture and sweet taste make the species ideal for making desserts. You can cook or eat burro banana while raw.
Blue Java Bananas
These banana hybrid cultivars are famous due to their sweetness and ice cream-like texture. Blue java bananas are also called ice cream bananas.
Unripe banana fruits have light to sky-blue peels that gradually turns yellowish blotchy with silver hues when they ripen. The banana species are mostly grown in Hawaii.
Blue java bananas are also grown due to their ornamental purposes. The drooping leaves with bluish-green colors and cold hardiness are the distinctive features.
Gros Michel (Big Mike) Bananas
Big Mike bananas were the most popular species before the emergency of Cavendish bananas. The large banana fruits with thick peels are distinctive features.
Gors Michel bananas have reduced in popularity in the United States, but they are common in Thailand and Malaysia.
The rich creamy texture and robust and sweeter tastes are my favorite features. Many Asians use the species for smoothies and desserts.
Banana King
The Banana king species is also called the Royal banana and hails from Indonesia. The banana cultivar was named after Tran King declared it his favorite fruit.
These bananas are seedless and sweet, making them ideal for preparing delicious banana fritters. They are also known as Musa Belle bananas.
The fruit is bright pinkish-purple and the tree can grow up to 5-9ft tall. The bright green leaves and yellow flowers are the distinctive features.
The tropical climate of Samoa is the reason behind the vast plantations of Banana King Species. Ripe banana is an exotic treat for tourists visiting Da Lat.
Rajapuri Banana
These medium-sized and sweet bananas are native to India. The banana cultivar is also a popular ornamental plant that thrives in full sun.
The intense sweet flavors, dense texture, and creaminess are the reasons behind the popularity of bananas in Asia.
The large leaves that fan out from the stem can provide excellent garden shade. It is a type of dwarf banana that gardeners love due to its ornamental uses.
Manzano Banana
Manzano banana is also called apple or Latundan or silk banana. This small banana type has small lengths and a chubby appearance for easy recognition.
The mini banana can grow up to 4 inches in length. It occurs as a cross between Musa acuminate and balbisiana.
The banana fruits are green and gradually turn yellow when ripen. We recommend waiting for the skin to turn almost black to enjoy the flesh sweetness.
Manzano banana fruits tastes resemble pineapples and apples. The soft flesh is sweeter compared to the Cavendish bananas.
Lady Finger Banana
It is a small banana species that taste extremely sweet with a soft and creamy texture. It is a cultivar of Musa acuminate also called sugar banana, fig banana, or date banana.
These bananas are native to Southeast Asia and are often deep-fried in batter. The baby (Nino) banana can grow up to 3 inches in length.
A ripe lady finger banana fruit has thin yellow skin with some brown spots. The rich banana flesh has a honey-like taste.
Nanjangud Banana
It is among the eight varieties of bananas in India. The distinctive taste, aroma, and slightly sour flavors are the reasons behind its popularity.
The sweet fruit thrives in the hot and humid climate of Karnataka state due to the black volcanic soil rich in iron oxide.
It can be eaten raw or cooked. Some people use this banana fruit to make sweets like kheer, halwa, and payasam.
Praying Hands Banana
It is an unusual banana with two adjacent hands that grow merged. The unique shape makes it easier to peel the fruit without damaging the skin.
The fruits are sweet and the banana trees are easier to grow. The banana species require small farms with little fertilizer application and water.
Saba Banana
The banana species is native to the Philippines and the fruits have an angular shape. The thick and tough skin on the large banana fruits is a distinctive feature.
Saba bananas grow well in hot climates and are often used in making desserts. The banana resembles a small green ball with white stripes.
Baby Banana
These are sweet and smaller versions of larger Cavendish bananas. They are usually eaten raw like other banana varieties.
These bananas are excellent portion-controlled snacks for children. They have a creamy texture and delicious taste.
Fehi Banana
These are among the most popular banana varieties in Israel. You are likely to find fehi banana plantations around Beersheba city.
Fehi red bananas are native to Taiwan and are also known as fei bananas in Chinese. The banana fruits are large with bright orange flesh and dark green leaves.
Fehi bananas are often used in Filipino cuisines like making flan banana desserts. You can also find them in Turkish supermarkets.
Bluggoe Banana
It is a cross between Musa acuminate and balbisiana. The banana name originates from the Burmese word blutgoy to mean bear fruit.
These banana species are widely grown in Myanmar and exported to neighboring countries. It is the staple food in the villages due to its low cost and ease of preparation.
The hybrid banana was developed in Australia before being grown in Southeast Asia. It is a type of green banana that requires full sun and high temperatures.
Barangan Banana
It is the most popular banana variety in the Philippines. These bananas are seedless and sweet when eaten raw.
They have small and round fruits that turn yellow when ripe. The creamy white flesh is delicious and ideal for making morning desserts.
The banana trees need plenty of water during the growing season and the fruits can tolerate warm weather. You can buy seeds or seedlings from nurseries and plant them.
Rhino Horn Banana
It is the world’s biggest banana species since each fruit measures 14 inches long. These banana varieties are native to Central America and South America.
Rhino horn bananas have about 10 different varieties. Most of them are common in Africa and Asia. The fruits are often used in making desserts and smoothies.
Pisang Raja Banana
These banana varieties are popular among Indonesians due to their sweet, creamy taste, and grainy texture. The yellow skin with black spots and bright red flesh is distinctive.
We recommend eating Pisang Raja bananas while fresh or adding them to salads and making pancakes or French toast.
These bananas are also called Musa Belle or Apple Banana. Most Indonesians use bananas to make flatbread along the streets.
Jamaican Red Dwarf Banana
It is a cross between Gros Michel and Cavendish varieties. It is a fast-growing banana that produces fruits within three months.
If you are looking to produce large quantities of bananas, we recommend growing the Jamaican red dwarf species. The small fruits are slightly sweet with deep orange skin.
Abaca Banana
It is a type of cooking banana common in the Philippines. These banana species can also be found in Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Many people also use these banana species to extract fibers ideal for making ropes. I recommend growing the banana indoors to control its growth rate.
An outdoor Abaca banana can grow up to 20ft tall. We use the suckers to propagate the bananas in containers or large pots.
Scarlet Banana
It is a banana species with dark colors and easier to control-growth. These scarlet bananas usually stop growing after hitting 3ft tall.
These small stature bananas produce edible fruits and spread out to 5ft. They are hardy and can resist common diseases.
You can propagate the banana species by planting the seeds in containers before transplanting them into your garden.
Orinoco Banana
It is among the most popular banana species grown in Venezuela. Hardy fruits can survive in cold climates and windy environments.
We recommend providing support to your bananas due to the heavy heads of fruits. Its fruit’s skin turns silky and soft when ripe.
The banana’s flesh is starchy with a sweet taste and smooth texture. The fruits are ideal for eating when raw and not cooked.
Red Dacca Banana
It is a unique type of banana due to its red-purple hue with yellow spots on the fruit skin. The creamy white flesh has tiny black seeds that are edible.
The fruits are long and slender with a thin peel. The sweet taste with a hint of strawberry and raspberry is the distinctive feature.
These bananas are not starchy like other species. We recommend using fruits to make smoothies or desserts.
When these bananas are cooked, the sweetness will intensify. It is an excellent choice for baking cakes or bread due to its sweetness.
Latundan Banana
The banana type was named after a French Clergyman Jean Baptiste La Tour. The species was introduced in Europe during his travel in 1823.
Latundan banana species are commonly grown in Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and many other parts of Africa.
Musa Hirta Banana
It is also known as the Bornean hairy banana. The banana fruits are hairy during the initial stages of development.
The bright pink flowers evolve into heavily textured and multi-headed sprouts. The fruits are juicier and less starchy compared to other traditional species.
These bananas thrive in humid climates and grow up to 8ft tall. You can foster the growth of the seedling indoors before transplanting.
Pisang Awak Banana
It is the best banana species for those beginners planning to grow bananas in their backyard garden. These bananas are the most popular species in the world.
The fruits are thicker than the common bananas and they are easy to eat. The banana species are hardy and can tolerate most climates.
Goldfinger Banana
These are genetically modified banana species native to Honduras. They are more pest-resistant than their traditional counterparts.
These bananas have close similarities to the Cavendish species. They require full sun and adequate water supply during the growing season. The fruits can be eaten raw or cooked.
Musa Troglodytarum
These bananas have brown peel and a highly prized taste. Musa troglodytarum species are native to the Pacific Island and staple diet of the locals.
The fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. The seedlings require high humidity before developing a strong root system. You can transplant it into your yard afterward.
Musa Nagasium Banana
It is an ornamental banana species that grow up to 3ft tall. The plant produces a cluster of purple fruits that form cylindrical points.
Musa Nagasium bananas are native to the Himalayan Mountains and Yunnan China. They thrive in both warm and temperate climates.
My Final Thoughts
Bananas are the most versatile fruits in the world. There are numerous types of bananas with different shapes, colors, and sizes.
All banana types are delicious and can be eaten raw or cooked. We recommend classifying them into ornamental, cooking, and raw species before growing them in the yard.
We hope you find this article informative and helpful. Feel free to let us know your experience with these banana varieties in the comment section.
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