Banana Shrub
ExplorePlants
Banana Shrub
Michelia
The Banana Shrub is a lovely plant that has bright green leaves and produces fragrant yellow flowers. It smells just like bananas when you get close to it!
Habitat: Warm, sunny places in gardens
Appearance
The Banana Shrub is an evergreen plant with glossy, dark green leaves. It has small, cup-shaped flowers that are creamy-yellow to purplish-brown, often appearing hidden among the foliage. Its visual distinction lies in its subtle blossoms that belie a surprisingly strong, sweet banana-like fragrance.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderMagnolialesFamilyMagnoliaceae
Category
PlantsRarity
Rare
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Wow! Its flowers often bloom hidden under leaves, making their strong scent a real surprise!
Wow! Its flowers smell exactly like ripe bananas, or sometimes even bubblegum!
Wow! The banana shrub's actual fruit is not edible; only its amazing scent is banana-like.
Wow! This plant is a close relative of magnolias, despite its name suggesting fruit!
Special abilities
Ability
Scent Beacon
Banana Shrub has a powerful banana-like fragrance that attracts pollinators, even when its flowers are hidden among its leaves to survive.
Ability
Evergreen Endurance
Banana Shrub can keep its glossy green leaves all year, allowing it to photosynthesize and grow even in cooler months to thrive.
Ability
Subtle Allure
Banana Shrub's modest, muted flowers rely on their strong perfume to guide insects to them, helping it reproduce effectively.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 300-500 cm
- Spread
- 250-400 cm
- Flower Size
- 2.5-4 cm
- Bloom Season
- Late spring to early summer
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
European honey bee
Apis mellifera
collects nectar and pollen
pollinates
European cockchafer
Melolontha hippocastani
attracted to fragrant flowers
shelters
Common blackbird
Turdus merula
nesting in dense foliage
eaten by
Vine weevil
Otiorhynchus sulcatus
larvae feed on roots
Traits
Shrub
A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground.
Spring Blooming
Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth.
Evergreen
Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
Fragrant Flower
Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
Urban Friendly
This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
Also known as
Michelia figoSweet Bay Magnolia
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Banana Shrub?
300-500 cm
How wide does Banana Shrub spread?
250-400 cm
How big are the flowers on Banana Shrub?
2.5-4 cm
When does Banana Shrub bloom?
Late spring to early summer
Is Banana Shrub edible?
No
Is Banana Shrub toxic?
None
What is Banana Shrub's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Banana Shrub pollinated?
Insect
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