Eric-Orlando,FL

Has it been determined what "Burmese Blue" is yet? a variety of Musa itinerans?

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

Gabe15

Yes, its definitely a variety of M. itinerans, but it may not be a published form (according to what I have heard). It seems to be rather similar to var. guangdongensis, but may prove to be distinct.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

bigdog

It is definitely a Musa itinerans variety, but as Gabe said, has not been described yet. It is a huge banana, around 35 feet of pseudostem, close to the size of var. xishuangbannensis, so it isn't very similar to var. guangdongensis. Whatever has been on the market as 'Burmese Blue' in all likelihood is not it.

I spoke with Dr. Hugo Volkaert at Kasetsart U. while in Thailand, and asked him about 'Burmese Blue'. He offered to take me to see plants! Ugh...too bad I couldn't take him up on that, as I was with a UT-sponsored program with not much free time. Anyway, he said that he could show me 20 different varieties of Musa itinerans in Thailand alone. Next time I travel there, I will take him up on that!!

Worm_Farmer

35' Tall?? Holey smokes! How long does it take to flower? Is it just a cooking banana like Saba?

Gabe15

There are multiple varieties of M. itinerans with the purple fruits. The ones I have seen flowering as 'Burmese Blue' in the US (at Harry P. Leu in Orlando and the Hawaii Tropical Botanic Garden on the Hamakua Coast, Big Island) both were only about 10-12ft. Over the summer, we planted some in the conservatory of the Denver Botanic Gardens, so I will be able to watch those grow over time when I return to Colorado periodically. However, Don Chafin informs me that he pollinated his 'Burmese Blue' and did not get purple fruits, so if we are to consider that all of the 'Burmese Blue' on the market are the same clone, it is possible they are not the intended M. itinerans variety at all. I don't think environmental factors would change their natural heights or (mature) fruit color so drastically. Obviously, the whole story of this plant is not known yet.

It is a seeded wild banana, so not like 'Saba' at all which is a cultivated edible banana variety.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Eric-Orlando,FL

Both of the clumps we have came from Going Bananas. They have never really thrived here. We have had several flower but only one set fruit but it never full set. Ours only got to about 10ft.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a

bigdog

That definitely is a Musa itinerans variety, but not 'Burmese Blue' as far as I can tell, and I'm just going on what I've read and heard from experts in the field. 'Burmese Blue' should get about 30-35 feet of pseudostem.

I have a couple of pics of the real deal, fruit pics that is. Wish I could post them, but they are not mine to post. The fruit is incredibly purple! Not a dull purple either, almost a shiny purple color. Very vivid and beautiful. I have a Musa itinerans variety, collected from Thailand, that gets to over 30 feet of pseudostem, but not sure if it's 'Burmese Blue' or not. I'll probably never know if I grow it in Knoxville, LOL.

Gabe15

We should note that regardless of whether or not this variety of M. itinerans has purple fruit, it seems as though this is what is still called 'Burmese Blue' in the horticultural market.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.