Is a Banana a Tree or an Herb?

Definition of Herb

• Botanists define an herb as a plant with fleshy stems that produce seeds, according to The Herb Society of America. The American Heritage Dictionary defines a tree as a perennial woody plant with a main trunk and distinct crown or a plant or shrub that resembles a tree in form and size. While technically an herb, the banana plant is referred to as a tree based on its size and shape.

Plant Structure

• The banana plant grows from a fleshy rhizome, sending up suckers around the main plant stem, known as the pseudostem. The suckers form a clump around the pseudostem, with the oldest sucker eventually replacing the main plant after it fruits and dies. As a whole, the entire plant is referred to as a "mat." The flowering stalk of the plant, also known as the inflorescence, grows from the center of the pseudostem approximately 10 to 15 months after planting. Flowers appear in a process called shooting. The time from shooting to mature harvest depends on weather conditions, the variety of plant and cultural practices. In general, the time between planting to harvest ranges from nine to 20 months.

Growth of Fruit

• Although the banana plant is classified as an herb, the banana itself is considered a fruit. Oxford Dictionaries explains that the banana contains seeds, making it a fruit. In the United States, import laws classify bananas as vegetables based on the way they are served and eaten. This legislation includes other "fruits" such as tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and corn.

Optimum Growing Condtions

• Banana plants grow in all soils, but thrive in highly organic soils in areas or greenhouses with a mean temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. They require high amounts of water, up to 4 inches of rainfall per month. Cool weather or dry conditions can slow the growth or even stop flowering completely. Due to the herbaceous quality of the plant's pseudostems, high winds may easily break the plant. Even light winds are known to shred leaves and retard the maturity of the plant.