Matching Plants
Mai'a
Banana
The federal status of the plant (Endangered, Threatened, or Not listed) based on the US Fish and Wildlife Services Environmental Conservation Online System as of 6/26/2024. Also see "Population Status" designations (PEPP, SWAP). Learn more.
NoneThe Hawaiian name(s) or other common name(s) of the plant.
Mai'aThe taxonomic family for the plant.
MusaceaeThe common name of the plant in English.
BananaDoes your site's environmental conditions meet this plant's needs?
The climate zones where this plant grows best. Learn more.
Salt tolerance is variable. If your site is right on the coast with direct salt spray, do some additional research to determine its tolerance. Learn more.
NoIf the plant grows better above or below 2,000' in elevation. Learn more.
No preferenceSelect what best represents the amount of sunlight at the planting site.
The amount of water the plant needs: 1 is lowest, 5 is highest. Learn more.
3-4Plant prefers well-drained soil. Learn more.
YesDoes this plant meet your landscaping needs?
The plant's growth form.
Herb, TreeThe range of height of a fully-grown plant, in feet.
12-20'The range of width of a fully-grown plant, in feet.
8'Select the landscape design role you are looking for. Learn more.
Accent, ScreenSelect a flower color or other attractive feature to filter for those plants. Learn more.
OtherDoes this plant have the personality you're looking for?
How easy it is to find the plant. Learn more.
CommonSelect options below to match your gardening experience. Learn more.
AverageWhether or not the plant is short-lived. Learn more.
YesIf the plant spreads, how evenly. Learn more.
VariableIf the plant needs pruning or not. Learn more.
May need regularWhen the main flowering stalk is 6-8 months old, allow one sucker (new shoot at base) to develop for next years harvest. After bananas on the main stalk are mature, harvest them and cut that stalk back to about 30″ (wear old clothing as the plant emits a sap that will stain). Remove this stump a few weeks later and chop up as mulch.
Does this plant provide the ecosystem and/or ethnotobanical benefits you're looking for?
How the Ancient Hawaiians used the plant: food, tools, shelter, canoes, medicine, spiritual, crafts, lei, ornamental, and/or fire.
Clothing, Food, Kapa cloth, Medicine, Shelter, SpiritualNot all native plants, birds occur on all islands. Select to show only what naturally occurs on your island. Learn more.
Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Molokaʻi, Lanaʻi, Maui, HawaiʻiProtection status for the plant under Federal and Hawai'I state laws. Learn more.
NoneThe native status of the plant in Hawaiʻi: Indigenous (found natively throughout Hawaiʻi), Endemic (found natively in specific areas), or Canoe (brought to Hawaiʻi by Ancient Hawaiians from other places in Polynesia). Learn more.
Canoe PlantWelcome to the Go Native App
Things will go here.
An essential staple of Pacific cultures, every part was used. Listed here because it’s tree-like, it’s actually an herb and the stalk dies once it produces fruit, and then regenerates from new shoots.