Wild bananas rate high on the list of exotic plants for tropical gardeners who enjoy collecting unusual and attractive ornamentals for the garden. Of the more than 70 species of the banana family, ...

It may now seem far-fetched, but the banana was once considered wildly exotic. First cultivated in ancient times in Southeast Asia, bananas arrived in Europe in the 15th century.

Few, if any, plants can rival hardy bananas (Musa basjoo) when it comes to adding a tropical flair to Northwest gardens. These exotic plants can grow to over 20 feet tall with 12-foot- long leaves.

Doug Richardson’s small banana plantation was the only substantial planting in California--and they weren’t just any bananas. He sold 50 exotic varieties at his roadside stand and farmers ...

If ordinary bananas have lost their appeal, there’s a tempting bunch of new, exotic bananas on the way to your supermarket.These new bananas don’t taste or look like Cheetah’s favorite food.

From there, it spread through Southeast Asia, India and Africa, eventually reaching Europe in 327 B.C., after Alexander the Great became enamored by the exotic banana.