How to propagate banana trees from suckers

The easiest way to propagate a banana tree is division. Dig up a sword sucker, the young shoot with narrow, blade-like leaves that grows from the base of the parent plant, and replant it. University of Florida Extension recommends taking sword suckers when they’re 4 to 5 feet tall, with plenty of healthy roots. Skip water suckers, which have broad leaves and a weak attachment, since they grow into weaker plants. Use a clean spade or knife, plant in spring when the weather warms, and water the new plant in well.

Is your banana growing in the ground? Dig sword suckers from the edge of the clump with a spade. Is it in a pot? Tip it out so you can see where the sucker joins the rhizome. Are the suckers still short or rootless? Leave them on the parent for now. Only see water suckers? Cut them off, since they won’t make strong plants. Thinking about seeds? Most edible bananas have none, so division is the practical choice at home.

Once you’ve successfully grown one banana plant, you’ll likely want a few more of them. That’s where propagating comes in.

Banana plants can be propagated in several ways, but for home gardeners, the simplest option is division. As long as your banana tree has healthy suckers with enough roots, you can simply remove these and replant them to grow into brand-new trees. Always use sharp and clean tools to avoid the risk of disease.

Banana propagation basics

Bananas can be grown from suckers, from pieces of the underground stem (the rhizome, or corm), from tissue culture, and from seed. For home gardeners, division of suckers is the most common choice.

Tissue culture is a lab method. University of Florida Extension says commercial bananas are propagated this way because the plants are uniform and free of nematodes and most diseases. The downside is the time it takes to grow the small plants to a size for sale.

Seed propagation is how most gardeners start plants, but it doesn’t suit bananas. Most common edible cultivars don’t produce seeds. Purdue University notes that banana seeds are used only in breeding programs.

The usual method for home gardeners is division. Banana plants produce suckers, also called pups, which are young shoots that grow from the rhizome at the base of the main plant. Once removed, a sucker with good roots can grow on its own into a full banana plant.

Sword suckers vs. water suckers

Not every sucker is worth planting. UF/IFAS describes three kinds. Sword suckers have narrow, sword-like leaves and a strong attachment to the parent rhizome. They grow into fruitful plants. Water suckers have broad leaves and a weak attachment, so they produce weak plants and less fruit. Peepers are tiny shoots, 1 to 12 inches tall, that later become one of the other two.

When to propagate

Spring is the best time to propagate banana trees, once the weather warms and the plants start growing. In south Florida, UF/IFAS names March, April, and May as the best months for planting if you can water, or June, when the rains begin, if you can’t.

Warm weather and steady moisture help new suckers root and settle in before the next cool season.

You may also spot good suckers while you’re cutting back old stems. If you’re already working around the clump to prune banana trees, check for sword suckers at the same time.

In cooler climates, give new plants time to establish before cold weather arrives. Young plants are more vulnerable to damage while they’re rooting.

Propagation supplies

To propagate your banana tree, you need a healthy plant with suckers. A plant without suckers can’t be divided.

Suckers need to be large, with their own roots, before you remove them. UF/IFAS recommends taking sword suckers from vigorous clumps when they’re 4 to 5 feet tall. The suckers should have many healthy roots with no signs of nematode or borer damage. Small suckers with few roots still depend on the parent plant and may not survive on their own.

If your banana tree is in a container, you’ll need a pot for each sucker and an airy, well-drained potting mix. If you’re planting in the ground, compost can help, depending on your soil. UF/IFAS notes that mixing composted organic matter into the native soil may be desirable.

You’ll also need a sharp spade or knife to separate the suckers. Clean tools help keep disease out of the fresh cuts.

How to divide banana trees

With your tools gathered, you’re ready to head into the garden to propagate.

Uproot the plant

For a banana in the ground, you don’t need to dig up the whole plant. UF/IFAS says to remove sword suckers from the clump with a spade. Dig around the sucker first so you can see where it joins the parent.

For a banana in a pot, tip the plant out of its container. With the roots in view, it’s easier to find where the sucker separates without damaging it or the parent.

Identify suckers

Look for sword suckers that have enough roots to survive on their own. There may be only one, but healthy banana plants can produce several suckers at a time.

Remove only the suckers that are large enough to replant. Leave smaller sword suckers attached to keep growing. Cut off water suckers, since they won’t make strong plants.

Remove suckers with a knife

Find the point where the sucker connects to the parent rhizome. You may need to pull the soil and roots apart a little for a better look.

Then make a clean cut between the sucker and the parent plant with your spade or knife, keeping a piece of rhizome and roots on the sucker. Avoid hacking with blunt tools, which can damage the roots. UF/IFAS suggests cutting off the largest leaves and leaving only the youngest, or none at all. If any roots or rhizome tissue look damaged or dark, trim them back to clean white tissue.

Replant

Finally, replant the individual suckers into their own pots or straight into the ground. You can follow our advice on planting banana trees for the instructions. This is a great way to relocate banana trees to a new part of your garden, or even to pot one up to grow indoors as a houseplant.

UF/IFAS recommends a large planting hole, about 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep, if you can manage it. Water the new plant in well, and add a thick layer of mulch around it to keep the soil moist and hold back weeds.

Banana propagation FAQ

Can you grow a banana tree from a banana?

Not from a grocery store banana. Most edible bananas don’t have viable seeds, and Purdue University notes that banana seeds are used only in breeding programs.

How big should a banana sucker be before you remove it?

UF/IFAS recommends removing sword suckers when they’re 4 to 5 feet tall and have many healthy roots.

What is the difference between a sword sucker and a water sucker?

Sword suckers have narrow leaves and a firm attachment to the parent rhizome, and they grow into fruitful plants. Water suckers have broad leaves and a loose attachment, and they produce weaker plants with less fruit.

When is the best time to divide banana plants?

Spring, once the weather warms. In south Florida, UF/IFAS names March through May as the best months to plant if you can water.