Mystery BananaWhat is it officially called?

A friend sent me this plant from Indonesia. Even at this small size the trunk is solid black with some purple highlights. It is simply called 'Black Banana' there. This is the only info I could get other than it pups well and seems to have a little cold tolerance. I haven't seen anything in the USA quite like this. I found one banana, M. bilbisiana, that is supposed to have some black coloration, but NOTHING like this one. I did a net search for black banana, and, black trunked banana, and well--------no banana! LOL

Any experts out there to help with this plant. It seems to be a rare one.

Thank!

Beautiful- can't wait to hear what it is!!

I am growing this also out of Thailand. I thought it may be chimpa champa but not sure yet. It is very dark trunked. and the leaves are fairly thick.

Ele Ele the black trunked banana from Hawaii is like this one. Gets a very dark colored trunk, especially as it gets a trunk on it. do a Google image search for Ele Ele banana.
:-)

M. bilbisiana (spelling?) is the official name for Ele Ele, I believe. This one is much darker in color. I have seen pics of Ele Ele plants the same size and bigger with only a little coloring compared to this banana.

Brian, yours looks like it might be the same.
Where did you get the name Chimpa Champa and can you tell me a little about it?

Thanks!

Okay---just found out from a Thai grower that these are a new cultivar of Musa bilbisiana that hasn't been scientifically named yet! He says in Thailand there are a probably a few local names floating about but that is is usually referred to simply as the 'Black Banana'. So, it is related to Ele Ele, but is a much improved and newer hybrid thereof; has much more pronounced coloration, having been bred specifically for this. It is still somewhat rare in Thailand and Asia; is totally new in the USA.

Great I had no information with mine. Their is a form from Hymilaians known as the chimpa champa it looks very very similar probably also in the same group.

I would have guessed Ele Ele also, except that the trunk in my young ele ele is not nearly as dark as yours. what a beauty you have there.