Banana tree roots

Banana plants have a thick underground stem, called a rhizome or corm, and a mass of fibrous roots that grow out of it. The rhizome stores food and sends up the trunk-like stalks and new suckers. The fibrous roots take up water and nutrients and hold the plant in place. Most roots stay in the upper soil, but in deep, loose ground they can reach several feet down and spread well past the clump. Because the roots are shallow and wide, keep the area around the plant mulched, watered, and free of lawn equipment.

How far apart should bananas sit from lawns and paths? Farther than most people think. University of Florida IFAS Extension warns that “Roots of mature banana plants (mats) spread 6 to 10 ft beyond the mat and use of some feed and weed materials of the lawn adjacent to a mat is not recommended.” It also advises a grass-free area of 2 to 5 feet or more around the stalks. Mulch that ring and skip weed-and-feed products nearby. Learn more in how to plant a banana tree, banana tree care, and how to propagate banana trees.

Banana trees have shallow root systems that are made up of two main components: rhizomes and fibrous roots.

The rhizome is a thick, fleshy underground stem, often called a corm. It is the base of the plant, and the trunk-like stalks (pseudostems) and new suckers grow up from it. Over time, it grows sideways as new suckers form, building a clump called a mat.

The fibrous roots grow out of the rhizome. These thin roots take up water and nutrients and help hold the plant in place. University of Florida IFAS Extension counts 200 to 500 fibrous roots on each rhizome. Gardeners sometimes call the fine roots near the surface “feeder roots” and the thicker, deeper ones “anchor roots,” though these are informal names for parts of the same fibrous system.

Banana plant root basics

The banana plant’s roots do three jobs: they feed the plant, hold it upright, and make new plants. The rhizome stores food and sends up suckers, while the fibrous roots gather water and nutrients and anchor the clump. A healthy root system is key to overall plant vigor.

Rhizome

The rhizome is the true stem of the banana plant, and it stays underground. It is a thick, knobby structure from which both roots and new stalks emerge. ProMusa notes that it is “commonly referred to as a corm, and occasionally as a bulb, but the botanically correct term is rhizome.”

It stores food and water for later use. The rhizome also produces suckers, which can be transplanted and grow into new banana plants. When the main stalk fruits and dies, a sucker from the same rhizome takes its place.

Fibrous roots

Fibrous roots are the thin roots that grow from the rhizome. They take up water and the nutrients dissolved in it. Together they form a dense mat that holds soil in place. Most of them stay in the upper layer of soil, which is why bananas wilt fast in dry spells.

Feeder roots

Feeder roots are the finest roots near the soil surface. They do most of the work of taking up water and nutrients, so they respond fast to watering and feeding. They are also easy to damage with digging, hoeing, or a string trimmer.

Anchor roots

The thicker roots that grow deeper help hold the tall plant upright in wind and can reach water lower in the soil. In deep soil that drains well, University of Florida IFAS Extension says “roots may extend 5 ft (1.5 m) deep and 16 ft (4.9 m) laterally.”

Banana tree roots FAQ