Travelers Palm -Ravenala madagascariensis

I have been to several Home Depots in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles this week and see that they are selling what they are calling Travelers Palms in 5 gallon containers. I always have a hard time telling them apart from Giant Bird of Paradise -Strelitzia nichola. Does anyone know if they really are selling Travelers Palms?

To show a quick difference.

Ravenala madagascariensis have plain green leaves.

Strelitzia nicolai shows gray-green leaves with some waxy coating.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravenala

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strelitzia_nicolai

This message was edited Jan 25, 2014 12:34 AM

Thanks, Metrosideros. I decided to buy one and give it a try.

Usually, Birds have thicker, more leathery leaves than ravenalas.....

Ravenala are not palms anyway, they are related to banana trees...common in gardens here they have become invasive in our neighbour island of Mauritius.