Lacatan Banana

🍌 Lacatan Banana – Filipino High-Flavor Dessert Type

The Lacatan Banana (not to be confused with the Central American “Red Lacatan”) is a Filipino heirloom cultivar widely considered one of the best-tasting bananas in the world. It produces medium-sized, richly flavored fruit with a firm, creamy texture and a bold, sweet-tart bite that puts supermarket bananas to shame.

Highly sought after in Southeast Asia and now grown in limited quantities in South Florida and Hawaii, Lacatan is a must-have for fruit connoisseurs and high-end specialty growers.

🌿 Plant Growth

• Grows 10–12 ft tall with a classic upright banana form

• Broad tropical foliage; requires some wind protection

• Strong production in rich, well-drained soils

• Begins fruiting in 12–18 months with proper care

• Suitable for large containers or in-ground planting in warm climates

🍌 Fruit Description

• Medium-length bananas with bright yellow peel and slight orange hue when ripe

• Flesh is firm, dense, and creamy, with an intense tropical banana flavor

• Flavor profile: sweet, slightly acidic, rich like banana taffy or tropical custard

• Eaten fresh or used in desserts — rarely cooked due to richness

• Known for its superior eating quality over Cavendish types

• Yields 30–50 lbs per bunch in mature, healthy plants

❄️ Cold Tolerance

• USDA Zones 10a–11

• More sensitive than Dwarf Nam Wah or Goldfinger

• Needs protection below 40°F — ideal for protected groves or coastal microclimates

📅 Harvest Season

• Fruits 12–18 months from planting

• Ripens 4–6 months after flowering

• Best performance in spring and summer growth cycles

💼 Ideal For

• Gourmet banana growers and tropical collectors

• Niche market farms, rare fruit resellers, and CSA programs

• Southeast Asian home gardens and heritage crop preservation

• Anyone seeking the highest flavor dessert banana available

🔒 Zill High Performance Notes

Our Lacatan bananas are grown from true field pups, not tissue culture, and verified for Philippine-type flavor and performance. These plants are hardened in South Florida and selected for top-tier eating quality, healthy roots, and early productivity. Limited availability due to slower propagation.