Banana Vine

Curio radicans (KUR-ree-oh RAD-ih-kans)

Family: Asteraceae Non-native Vine (vertical)

String of bananas is a trailing, herbaceous, succulent, perennial vine in the daisy family (Asteraceae) that has very unusual banana-shaped leaves. It is native to southern Africa, but it is grown all over the world as a houseplant. In its native habitat, it forms mats at the base of trees. The genus name, Curio, is derived from the Latin word curiosus, and this references the plant's "curious" morphology. The specific epithet, radicans , means "taking root" and references how the stems take root along the length of the trailing vine. This plant is related to Curio rowleyanus, which is known as string-of-pearls. This plant requires bright, indirect sunlight to all parts of the plant. It prefers well-drained coarse or sandy potting or cactus medium. Water the plant only when the top half of the soil feels dry. It is drought tolerant and over-watering needs to be avoided. It can be propagated by stem cuttings or seeds; however, stem cuttings are the quickest and most common method. The plant is not full-sun tolerant nor frost tolerant. It is hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10a to 11b. Prune the plant in the spring or summer to manage its growth and to encourage branching. The string of bananas has long, thin, flexible, green to blue-grayish-green stems. The leaves are green, glossy, thick, fleshy, and banana-shaped. Each leaf has a translucent line or "leaf window" to let in sunlight into the leaf's interior. The banana-shaped leaves are alternate, so the leaves on the stem look like a chain of "little green bananas." The flowers are cinnamon-scented, tiny, white, and appear in a cluster. The length of the stems may be up 1 to 3 feet and the width of the plant is dependent on the size of the container. The string of bananas is easy to grow, low maintenance, and fast growing. All it requires is that you don't overwater, provide it adequate filtered bright sunlight, and well-drained potting medium. It is attractive in a hanging basket with its long, slender, trailing stems cascading over the container. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Monitor for aphids, mealybugs, scale, and spider mites. Avoid overwatering to prevent root rot. Browning or reddish leaves is usually caused by sunburn.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 53 attributes.