plant ID

Hi there!
Does anybody know what this plant is and how tall it will grow? Are the leaves healthy do you think?
Thank you for answering!

 

A ficus?

 

Looks like a banana to me..... :D

 

Could it be a variegated form of the "rubber plant" (Ficus elastica) that was fashionable as a pot plant in the 70's?? The central pointed growing tip seems to be missing, though. Otherwise looks like a banana leaf to me too... Banana Man, where are you??

 

banana plant

 

Glad to see we agree again Pete!

 

That must be twice now dendy. :D :D

 

Maybe Musa Zebrina or sikimensis

 

At first glance thought it leaves looked like a Calatheas.

 

Twice - blimey that's good going! :D

 

What pete said. Younger versions of the sikimensis produce great looking leaves. However, I think this one is more likely to be the acuminata or dwarf cavendish, which is sold in huge numbers for little money. The markings are a little too consistent for sikimensis. Acuminata is not cold hardy and should be treated as a summer outdoor plant only, much like my ensetes.

This is sikimensis, which if protected is as hardy as basjoo. :D





This is acuminata

 

Judging by the generally compact growth, I would suggest it is the cultivar 'Banamarama', which has been doing the rounds in garden centres and home stores over the past few years. It is a significantly dwarfer version of the 'Cavendish' form of Musa acuminata and seems quite variable in the amount of red markings on the leaves.

BM - your pic of the 'nana' in flower is Musa basjoo, although there is a sikkimensis in the backgound. The bracts of sikkimensis are blackish purple with a glaucous bloom on the outside and very rich reddish-purple within. I had both in flower at the same time last summer and with such a mild winter, it seems as though the sikki fruits may yet continue to develop. I'm hoping that some may have been pollinated by wasps commuting between the clumps.