A noteworthy banana: Blue Java

Blue Java bananas are a hybrid between Musa acuminata and Musa balbisiana, which means that botanists should tell you that the accepted scientific biominal name is Musa acuminata x Musa balbisiana 'Blue Java'.

The Blue Javas originated, as all bananas do, in Southeast Asia and are now widely spread throughout the Hawaiian islands in the Pacific. Unlike most tropical fruit trees, they can withstand temperatures as low as minus 10^oC, which means they would be able to withstand the winters in the temperate zones of the earth. I would however advice you to grow them in pots and move them indoors if the winter turns out to be especially harsh.

The fruit bunches of the Blue Java are small, bearing seven to nine hands. The fruit are up to 20 centimeters in length and exhibit a characteristic silvery blue colour when unripe. The fruit turns a pale yellow when ripe, with white creamy flesh.

Blue Javas have a sweet aromatic flavour reminiscent of vanilla, which is why the Blue Java is also known as Ice Cream banana. Other names you might encounter are Hawaiian banana, Ney Mannan, Krie or Cenizo.

In addition to bearing amazing fruit, Blue Javas make beautiful ornamentals, with large red flowers and its silvery blue leaves. The plant may reach six meters in height.