Ravenala madagascariensis aka Traveler's Palm

Ravenala madagascariensis is known as traveller's tree or traveller's palm. This evergreen tree belongs to the Strelitziaceae family. It comes from eastern and southeastern Madagascar, including warm, moist forests. People grow it across frost-free tropical and subtropical regions. Its broad fan of leaves gives it a palm-like shape.

Garden height varies between sources, from 15–50 feet [4.6–15.2 metres]. Reported garden widths range from 15–25 feet [4.6–7.6 metres]. The RHS gives a spread beyond 26 feet [8 metres]. Wild trees can reach 98 feet [30 metres]. Young plants hold their leaf fans near ground level. As they age, a thick, unbranched trunk rises beneath them. Old leaves leave rings on its brown to gray surface. Root suckers can turn a single plant into a clump. About 20–30 dark green leaves form one flat fan. Leaf blades reach 5–10 feet [1.5–3 metres] long. They span 2–3 feet [0.6–0.9 metres] across. Long, grooved stalks support them, and their bases hold rainwater. This stored water accounts for the plant's common name.

White flowers rise from green bracts shaped like small boats. They resemble bird-of-paradise flowers and appear mainly in summer. In warm climates, blooms may appear throughout the year. A plant may take ten years to flower. Lemurs, bats and birds pollinate the flowers. Brown, woody capsules follow, holding seeds with bright blue arils. These arils form a covering around each seed.

Grow it in full sun, with shelter from strong winds. It prefers rich loam that stays moist but drains well. It also tolerates clay, sand and a range of soil pH. Established plants have some drought tolerance but lack salt-spray tolerance. Outdoor cultivation suits USDA zones 10–11. The RHS rates it H1A for warm greenhouse conditions. It dislikes temperatures below 60°F and cannot tolerate those below 40°F. Its size suits parks and large gardens more than small yards. Containers limit growth, but moving large plants indoors can be hard. Remove suckers to keep a single-trunk form. Seeds and divisions provide new plants.

Wind can tear the leaves into strips. Spider mites, root rot and leaf spot can occur. Some sources report few serious problems; UF/IFAS warns of severe Cercospora leaf spot. The seeds and blue arils are edible. People also use seed oil for cooking and extract sugar from trunk sap. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards, rather than verified safety. It reports antiseptic use of seed oil. Leaves supply roof and packing material; stems and leaf stalks serve in building.