Link Fixed!

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This is what the plants looked like one year ago.

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My experience with banana plants is that they do not have extensive root systems, like a ficus or other trees with significant roots that can cause damage to concrete and other structures. I also harvest the fruit in about a year and then cut that shoot down (surprised you have not had fruit yet -- they only give one crop in the life of each plant shoot). The plant and roots are not woody, but very soft and full of water. Not sure where you are, but maybe call your county extension agent and ask.

Not a problem. Banana roots are to soft

Your yard is so pretty. Glad you don't have to pull it. I have a fairly large mesquite I was hoping to keep, but it has to go. I'm really bummed.

I have lots of Bananas all over my yard. Their roots go out about 12" or 15" from the root ball on a 10' tree. The roots are very soft. In fact, I can pull a 7' plant out like a weed, so they are not very strongly rooted. The only negative to them is they need constant cleaning (pair of scissors will do) and tend to blow over in a strong wind. However, you can usually replant them when they fall over and if you want more just cutup the plant and plant the pieces and within a few weeks you'll have lots of trees. It is the perfect indestructible plant. You can literally cut off the top of the plant and within 3-4 hours you'll see the center start to shoot out a leaf. Also understand the plant dies after bearing fruit. Not a big deal because you will have others that will grow out of that ones stock and they usually take 2-3 years before they bear fruit (at least in my climate).

Thanks for your input and I will leave the plant in for now. I am in Southern California. Some of you talked about fruit; unless I am mistaken, this is a banana plant that does not grow fruit. I have a banana tree in my front yard that does grow bananas once in a while.

Thanks again.

Dont worry about Banana. The roots are very soft and will not damage concrete. In fact you can even plant palm trees pretty close to concrete without worry. Its the bigger trees that can do more damage.

I am so glad to see the comments about banana trees next to the pool. my husband planted one next to a skimmer area and I’ve been trying to determine if there’s danger of damaging the gunite pool. My problem is that lots of babies are sprouting up. I pull them out as I can. They sprout quickly. I love that it gives shade and it is beautiful. But I will continue to pull out the new sprouts. If anyone thinks I need to relocate the tree further from the pool, please let me know. Thanks

Oh, I know it's an old thread, but we had banana plants all around our pool and I pulled them all out. Indeed, they grow so big and wide, that it was inevitable they start to push things outward (and upward). Specifically, one was near our autofill thingy and the plant was pressing into the autofill device, so the pool was filling higher than normal. We had to remove that one.

Let me explain, we live in SoCal on clay-y soils that are very dense.

When another one got too thick, it was pressing the soils around it causing the concrete decking to lift. When I noticed that I had seen enough! I took them all out.

It's not the roots. It's their sheer bulk. There has to be a place for the displaced soil to go.

I never get attached to destructive plants. Out they go.