Lakatan Banana is a beloved dessert banana originating from the Philippines. It is celebrated for its sweet, aromatic, orange-pulp fruit, and moderate growth habit. Well-suited for warm, frost-free climates, Lakatan brings vibrant colour, rich flavour, and a reliable yield to home gardens. Ideal for gardeners who value taste and tradition.
Lakatan thrives under full sun with fertile soil and regular care. 
 
Key Features
Produces bananas with yellow–orange skin and rich, aromatic, orange-pulp fruit — prized for flavour and sweetness.
Moderate-sized plants (typically 1.5–2.5 m / 5–9 ft) — manageable for small gardens or backyards. 
Quick to fruit — often within 8–12 months under favourable conditions.
Great for fresh eating: creamy, sweet taste with good texture; also higher in beta-carotene than many common bananas, offering nutritional benefits. 
 
Growing Tips
Sun & Position: Needs full, direct sun for most of the day (6–8 h); a sunny, sheltered garden spot is ideal.
Soil: Prefers deep, fertile, well-draining soil — a rich loam or sandy loam with good compost and organic matter. 
Watering: Keep soil evenly moist during growth and fruiting; avoid waterlogging. Reduce the moisture slightly in cooler periods. 
Feeding: Regular fertiliser or compost application every 4–6 weeks during growing/fruiting season helps support healthy growth and fruit set.
Spacing & Planting: Plant at least 1–2 m from other banana clumps or trees to allow room for leaf spread and suckers.
 
Care & Maintenance
Harvest Cycle: Bananas typically mature 8–12 months after planting. After harvesting, remove the fruiting stem; new suckers will continue the cycle. 
Frost / Cold: Lakatan requires warmth — protection or indoor/container growing is wise in cooler climates or where frost occurs. 
Pests & Disease: Susceptible to common banana-plant viruses — keep good hygiene, and avoid planting near infected plants. 
Maintenance: Remove dead leaves and any overcrowded suckers, keep mulch around base to conserve moisture and feed soil, and ensure good drainage especially during wetter periods.
 
Growing bananas in NZ
Bananas grow great in Northern parts of NZ, particularly the lady finger varieties.  They thrive in warm, sheltered conditions and require plenty of compost, mulch and water.  They are considered heavy feeders, the more you feed and look after your bananas the more fruit you will get.  Bananas will form a clump in no time and it is important to keep on top of the clump to ensure good fruiting.  Ideally you want to keep your clump to 3-5 main stems.  Any extras can be removed and mulched back around the clump.  Although typically grown in the northen parts of NZ, we have customers who have created micro climates to successfully fruit bananas outdoors as far south as Christchurch.
 
XL Grade plants are potted in PB 18 (10L) and are available for pick up or special delivery only.  Please contact for delivery options.