Rare swamp plant from Madagascar with a banana-like stem and enormous upright leaves

Typhonodorum lindleyanum, also known as the "water banana," is a rare aroid (not related to the banana) from the swamps of the island of Madagascar. It forms a sturdy, banana-like stem up to 30 centimeters in diameter, crowned by a rosette of large, upright leaves that grow from a short, horizontal rhizome.

In the wild, it typically reaches 1.5 to 2.5 meters in height but can grow up to 4 meters, with roughly half being the pseudostem and half the leaves. Indoors or in a greenhouse, it remains somewhat smaller, but can still grow over 2 meters tall. The species grows very quickly when provided with sufficient nutrients and standing in warm water, and is therefore usually sold as a young plant before it becomes too large to ship.

The flowers are white, around 30 centimeters long, very thick, and fleshy.

On Madagascar, the plant is harvested from the wild and used locally as food, although its nutritional value is questionable.

Care

Prefers a sunny location. In nature, it grows in wet to swampy soil and even in shallow water, and should therefore be kept constantly wet, preferably with the pot standing in water, or planted directly in shallow water.

Keep the water warm, preferably above 20 degrees Celsius, for fast growth. Fertilize regularly during the growing season. It does not tolerate cold and should be grown indoors, in a greenhouse, or in a heated water tank. A truly exotic plant for those who want something completely different.