Ravenala madagascariensis Travellers Palm Ravenala madagascariensis or Traveller’s Tree is native of Madagascar, a member of the Strelitziaceae. It has large leaves on large stalks which grow beautifully in the form of a fan. The plant looks very much like Strelitzia regina or bird of paradise but without the spectacular flower. It’s called traveller’s tree because water is collected at the base of the leaves which traveller’s could supposedly use but this water is actually polluted with dead insects and other not so nice and smelly stuff. It has characteristics of both the bananas and palm trees: large leaves not unlike those of banana plants and a stem like palm trees but it’s herbaceous, not a palm or a tree. Ravenala is not hardy but can be grown as a patio plant: outside during Summer and inside during Winter.
