Exotic, red bananas in dwarf form!

Musa acuminata 'Figue Rose Naine' is a compact banana plant that produces red-colored desert bananas. It is also called Red Dwarf Banana, Dwarf Cuban Red or Dwarf Red Dacca and grows only 3-4 meters tall.

The bananas are dark purple when ripe, turning reddish-brown with hints of yellow when ready to eat. The flesh is creamy white to slightly pink with a sweet, creamy flavor that many consider superior to the regularCavendish banana .

This variety is self-fertile and does not require another banana for pollination. Flowering is followed by the development of small banana clusters where the fruits ripen to their characteristic red colors.

The redder the fruit, the higher the content of carotene and vitamin C. This variety is therefore rich in vitamins, especially beta-carotene and vitamin C, and contains significant amounts of potassium and iron. 

Botanical description

Figue Rose Naine is a clone of the widespread cultivar Dwarf Red Banana, a AAA type of banana that also goes by the name Dwarf Cuban Red in the Caribbean and Indio or Macaboo in other parts of the world. The name "Figue Rose" comes from Martinique where the variety was traditionally grown, and "Naine" means dwarf in French, referring to the compact growth habit of the plant.

The variety was introduced to the Canary Islands in the early 1990s from Martinique and has since been reproduced in vitro on the islands. Despite its smaller size, the plant is very robust and vigorous with a powerful pseudostem (the false stem that banana plants have).

Care

Musa acuminata 'Figue Rose Naine' thrives best in warm, sheltered locations with full sun or light shade. The plant prefers a humus-rich, well-drained soil. This soil mix works very well for growing in pots.

Flowering usually occurs 10-15 months after planting under favorable conditions. The plant requires regular watering during hot periods, but make sure the soil never remains in water. During the summer, the soil should never be allowed to dry out completely.

This variety is sensitive to cold and should be protected from temperatures below 8°C, especially young plants. It is hardy down to +2°C for a short time, but the plant must be overwintered frost-free in Sweden.

In our climate, the Figue Rose Naine banana is best grown in a large pot on a terrace or in a greenhouse where it can be moved indoors during the winter. During the winter, it should be given extra plant lighting and watered sparingly.

After fruit production, the main stem dies, but new shoots grow up from the rootstock.

The red bananas are harvested when they are deep red or maroon and should be eaten when they are slightly soft and undamaged. They can be eaten fresh, sliced ​​in salads, dried as chips or baked and fried. Store at room temperature for best ripening, avoid refrigeration. Buy Red Banana Plant online!