Mona Lisa (FHIA-02) Banana Grow Guide

The Mona Lisa is a spectacular piece of science and art.

And I’m not referring to the painting by Leonardo da Vinci 😉

Instead, I’m talking about the banana cultivar that was developed by the Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation (FHIA) back in 1984! 😛

The Mona Lisa Banana, whose original name was the FHIA-02, is a robust and productive banana cultivar that sports excellent disease resistance relative to the Cavendish Subgroup (Dwarf Cavendish, Grand Naine, Williams Hybrid, etc.).

So, if disease resistance and production are high on your list of priorities, look no further than the Mona Lisa!

That said, this grow guide will cover everything you need to know about the Mona Lisa Banana:

Table of Contents

• Mona Lisa Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
• Mona Lisa Banana Flavor Profile
• Mona Lisa Banana Disease Resistance
• Mona Lisa Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
• Conclusion

Mona Lisa Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production

Mona Lisa Bananas are small to medium-sized banana trees that usually average between 8 – 12 feet tall.

Between Mona Lisa’s height and the fact that the tree is a vigorous grower, the Mona Lisa would not do well long-term in containers and would NOT be considered a “condo” banana.

That said, much like the Mysore, the Mona Lisa Banana can add significant ornamental value to the landscape.

Although, that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise with a name like Mona Lisa, right? 😆

The Mona Lisa has a beautiful and distinctive reddish pseudostem, with little to no blotches, that produces a very nice pop of color. Mix in the fact that its petiole channels (the groove along the leaf stalk) are always fully open, and you’ve got yourself a good-looking tree!

The Mona Lisa is a Musa acuminata x balbisiana hybrid and features a Tetraploid (AABB) genome. Other tetraploid (AABB) banana cultivars include, but are not limited to:

• FHIA-01 ‘Goldfinger’
• FHIA-03 ‘Sweetheart’
• FHIA-17
• FHIA-21

Why does banana chromosomal count even matter? Glad you asked! 😜

In layman’s terms, the sweetness and softness of a banana’s texture increase with a higher concentration of ‘A’ chromosomes inherited from Musa acuminata. Conversely, a greater proportion of ‘B’ chromosomes from Musa balbisiana enhances the banana’s resilience, improving its cold tolerance and resistance to diseases.

And the focus of the FHIA’s banana breeding program was to create new cultivars with the following characteristics:

• Increased Disease Resistance (B)
• Increased Yields (B)
• Acceptable Flavor (A)

The Mona Lisa Banana’s ‘A’ chromosomes contribute to its familiar Cavendish flavor—but more on that shortly! 😉

Meanwhile, the high concentration of ‘B’ chromosomes gives the Mona Lisa Banana greater tolerance to environmental stressors, including both drought and windy conditions, as well as overall cold hardiness.

As a result, similar to Goldfinger and Sweetheart, if you are looking for a tough and hardy banana with a familiar flavor, the Mona Lisa is definitely an excellent choice to consider from that perspective.

Finally, when grown under optimal conditions, the Mona Lisa Banana’s fruit production is good to heavy, with the tree consistently producing large bunches typically consisting of between 8 and 12 hands per rack.

Note: With these larger racks, it’s imperative to prop up the tree to avoid the fruit from falling to the ground.

And not only is the Mona Lisa a production workhorse, but another interesting tidbit that I’ve consistently noticed over the years is just how much quicker these bananas tend to ripen after flowering.

Depending on the environmental conditions when the tree flowers, we are talking as quick as 4 months to harvest!

For context, most of the banana cultivars I have experience with can take upwards of 5 to 6 months to fully ripen.

Mona Lisa Banana Flavor Profile

The Mona Lisa Banana is a hefty one, with large, plump fruit that stands out compared to your standard grocery store Cavendish.

When it comes to ripeness, these bananas follow the same cues you’d use for any of your standard Cavendish Bananas. The peel gives off that familiar banana aroma when it’s ready, but you can fine-tune the timing depending on your personal preference for sweetness and flavor balance.

Personally, I enjoy them when the peel is a greenish-yellow—just slightly underripe—but that’s my sweet spot.

Texturally, the Mona Lisa Banana is quite similar to a standard Cavendish, though you’ll notice it has a juicier bite. It doesn’t cross into “too wet” territory, but it’s definitely more refreshing to eat compared to other bananas in the Cavendish Subgroup that can be on the drier, starchier side.

As for flavor, it’s pleasantly sweet, on par with other FHIA hybrids like FHIA-01 and FHIA-018. However, it doesn’t quite reach the sugar-packed intensity of a Mysore Banana. The Mona Lisa definitely leans more mild when fully ripe, though it can have an occasional hint of floral undertones that can add some flavor complexity.

If you prefer your bananas with a bit of a kick though, try eating the Mona Lisa Banana when the peel is still yellow but tinged with green (my favorite point).

At that stage, the Mona Lisa will have a tart and tangy twist that really livens up the flavor—almost like a playful zing to balance out the sweetness. If you push it further and eat one even earlier, the tanginess becomes much more pronounced, for those who like that kind of bold flavor.

In terms of overall appeal, the Mona Lisa Banana holds its own.

If you’re after something familiar to a Cavendish but with a bit more personality in the flavor department, it’s a solid pick. Additionally, I really like how you can get several different ‘flavor profiles’ depending on when you want to enjoy the fruit (it’s like a BOGO in that regard!).

Sure, I’d say there are tastier bananas out there—at least for my palate—but when you consider how well this cultivar grows and produces, I’m genuinely surprised more people aren’t planting it.

Overall, the Mona Lisa a well-rounded, dependable banana that I think a lot of folks would be thrilled to have growing in their backyard.

Mona Lisa Banana Disease Resistance

Due to its tetraploid (AABB) genome structure, the Mona Lisa Banana boasts excellent disease resistance.

More specifically, Mona Lisa exhibits strong resistance to Panama Disease, Sigatoka Disease and Black Leaf Streak.

As a result, the Mona Lisa Banana makes an excellent choice for those in areas with high disease pressure.

Mona Lisa Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)

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For more information, please check out our Tropical Fruit Trees For Sale Page.

Conclusion

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If you have any questions regarding anything mentioned in this grow guide, please comment them below! This way, others can also benefit from the answer to the same question. For any other questions or growing tips that you think may be helpful, feel free to use the contact form and drop me a line.

Thank you for reading! 🙂

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