by 
Originally named FHIA-03, the Sweetheart Banana was developed by the Honduran Agricultural Research Foundation (FHIA) in 1994.
Similar to other popular FHIA hybrids, such as Goldfinger and Mona Lisa, the Sweetheart was bred to be a very robust and productive banana cultivar.
And, boy, let me tell you, the Sweetheart really does excel in those departments!
Oh, and if you are a fan of Ice Cream Bananas, you may fall ‘head over heels’ for the Sweetheart 😉
That said, this grow guide will cover everything you need to know about the Sweetheart Banana:
Table of Contents
- Sweetheart Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
- Sweetheart Banana Flavor Profile
- Sweetheart Banana Disease Resistance
- Sweetheart Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
- Conclusion
Sweetheart Banana Tree Characteristics & Fruit Production
Sweetheart Bananas are small to medium-sized banana trees that usually average between 8 – 12 feet tall. As a result, Sweetheart would not do well long-term in containers and would NOT be considered a “condo” banana.
Fun Fact #1: A quirky trait of the Sweetheart Banana is that the tree produces far fewer suckers compared to other popular banana cultivars. So, if you loathe digging out pups, Sweetheart has got you covered 🙂
The Sweetheart has a vigorous growth habit that contributes to its upright and very stout pseudostem. As a result, Sweetheart Bananas can tolerate mild to moderate winds.
However, it’s still best to avoid planting them in areas with frequent or extreme winds, as their large, broad leaves are still prone to shredding in the event of strong gusts.
Fun Fact #2: The pseudostem of ‘FHIA-03’ is easily identifiable by its vibrant light green color, which has little to no blotches. To my knowledge, the Sweetheart is the only FHIA hybrid that exhibits this distinctive trait.
The Sweetheart 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-02 ‘Mona Lisa’
- 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:
- Acceptable Flavor (A)
- Increased Disease Resistance (B)
- Increased Yields (B)
The Sweetheart Banana’s ‘A’ chromosomes contribute to its pleasantly sweet flavor and soft texture—but more on that shortly! 😉
Meanwhile, the high concentration of ‘B’ chromosomes gives the Sweetheart Banana greater tolerance to environmental stressors, including drought, windy conditions, and overall cold hardiness.
Additionally, I have also observed that Sweethearts tend to grow very well even in relatively poor soil conditions.
Therefore, similar to Goldfinger and Mona Lisa, if you are looking for a tough and hardy banana that was bred to withstand less-than-ideal conditions, Sweetheart is definitely an excellent choice to consider from that perspective.
Finally, when grown under optimal conditions, the Sweetheart Banana’s fruit production is good to heavy.
We are talking racks of bananas that can range from anywhere between 30 to 150 lbs! That’s INSANE 🤯
Despite having a stocky and thick trunk, bunches of this size put a lot of pressure on the pseudostem, so I would highly recommend propping the tree up after it flowers to prevent the pseudostem from collapsing.
Fun Fact #3: Similar to the Goldfinger, the Sweetheart Banana is a relatively more precocious variety compared to other popular varieties, such as the Mysore or Nam Wah.
Sweetheart Banana Flavor Profile
The Sweetheart Banana has a shape and size that’s quite similar to your standard Cavendish, just slightly smaller but with a thicker peel that makes it easy to handle without the fear of bruising the fruit.
That said, Sweethearts tend to ripen quickly after picking, so it’s best to leave them on the stalk until you’re almost ready to eat them. Ideally, you should harvest one hand at a time—if your tree isn’t too tall to manage.
Speaking of harvesting, thankfully, Sweetheart Bananas are also more forgiving than other bananas if you harvest them slightly early (just not super early), which is always a little nice bonus.
When it comes to determining when they are ready, I believe they are the most flavorful when they’re mostly yellow with just a touch of brown starting to show. At that stage, they give off an aroma similar to a very ripe Cavendish.
That said, if you like your bananas a little on the firmer, slightly underripe side, the good news is that they’re still decent when there’s a bit of green on the peel (just not going to get that peak flavor).
The texture of the Sweetheart Banana is where it really stands out. The flesh is white, much like the Ice Cream Banana, and shares that same airy, melt-in-your-mouth quality. It’s almost like biting into a soft pillow.
However, depending on the nutrients the plant receives, the inner flesh can sometimes be firmer and a bit rubbery, reminiscent of Nam Wah or even Cavendish Bananas. Be careful, though, not to let them get too overripe because they do tend to get a bit mushy inside… which I think most folks aren’t a fan of! 🫣
From a flavor perspective, the Sweetheart Banana is a crowd-pleaser. That is because it doesn’t have many of those unfamiliar, bold notes that might scare off folks new to the world of banana cultivars.
Instead, Sweetheart has a mild, pleasantly sweet flavor with a touch of tartness (less tart than a Dwarf Brazilian) and a subtle sub-acid component. If it weren’t for that little hint of sub-acid and the fluffy texture, you might mistake it for a very mild Cavendish. The tartness and sub-acid levels can vary depending on when you harvest.
Personally, I like to think of Sweetheart almost as an “Improved Ice Cream Banana”—the flavor and texture are close, but the Sweetheart cranks up the flavor knob to make it, in my opinion, a tastier banana. If you haven’t tried Ice Cream Bananas, Sweethearts are also somewhat comparable to Goldfinger or Orinoco Bananas in taste.
As far as how to enjoy them, the Sweetheart is a solid choice for a dessert banana, especially if you enjoy bananas with a soft texture. It’s sweet but not overwhelming, making it versatile and easy to incorporate into snacks or desserts without overshadowing other flavors.
Overall, I’d rate the Sweetheart banana as good, but not great. For strictly flavor, I personally prefer the other FHIA hybrids like FHIA-01 or FHIA-02, which I believe bring more interesting flavor profiles to the table.
That said, I do like Sweetheart better than the Ice Cream Banana, thanks to the slight edge in flavor. If I could only plant one banana tree, though, it probably wouldn’t be the Sweetheart (I’m partial to Mysore for its unique flavor).
However, if you’re looking for a banana tree that’s hardy, productive, and has solid disease resistance, the Sweetheart makes a compelling case—just don’t expect it to blow your mind flavor-wise. It’s definitely a reliable option for home gardeners, even if it’s not the most exotic banana out there.
Sweetheart Banana Disease Resistance
Unlike the other tetraploid (AABB) banana cultivars, the Sweetheart Banana only boasts good (vs. excellent) disease resistance.
While Sweetheart does exhibit good resistance against Sigatoka Disease, field studies have reported Sweetheart as being susceptible to certain races of Panama Disease.
As a result, while Sweetheart is not as vulnerable as other varieties, such as Gros Michel, it still requires careful management and benefits from being planted in disease-free or well-monitored soils to reduce the risk of infection.
Sweetheart Banana Tree For Sale (Where To Find)
Tropical Tree Guide has proudly partnered with Montura Gardens, a family-owned nursery in Clewiston, Florida, to bring you premium, grafted tropical fruit trees—delivered FREE to your doorstep! With Montura Gardens’ exceptional quality and service, we’re making it easier than ever to grow flourishing tropical trees right in your backyard.
For more information, please check out our Tropical Fruit Trees For Sale Page.
Conclusion
If you found this grow guide helpful, please consider sharing. It helps support the website 🙂
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! 🙂
_
