PlantFiles: False Banana, Red Abyssinian Banana, Wild Banana
Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

A very easy to grow tropical. Japanese Beetles love to munch on the leaf tips. It is a 'Mite Magnet' in the greenhouse. Reacts very well to steady food and water during warm temperatures- we water 2-5 gallons daily at 100 ppm 15-5-5. Does well in containers, the bigger the better, does very well in the ground. We cut ours down to 12'' above the ground, dig up and put in nursery containers prior to the first frost, and leave in a 64 degree greenhouse until mid May. The root system is minimal, it is just a large 'bulb'. The new leaves start to appear from the stump in a month or so after cutting. The growth really starts to takes off in February, when the daylight hours begin to get longer. Plant in a protected area because a moderate wind can rip the leaves. We have had second (and 3rd, 4th) year plants grow 15' in one summer, the plant demands space and full sun. It can produce a large (12-18") black and orange flower... but then the plant will die. This plant has been a lot of fun to grow, and we have gotten many compliments on it.

I used to have this plant, and are getting another 3 very soon, as it is just starting to get into summer here. The plants leaves will die back as soon as the temperature drops to zero degrees celcius ( 32 F ). As is the case with most bananas, but will grow back in the spring. I dont know what the ultimate low temperature is before the plant dies ??? But I live in ( ZONE 9a - 9b ) in New Zealand and the plant survives right through winter outside and sprouts up again in the spring.

Although I have not had this plant for long, the quick growth and deep colouring of the leaves make it a desirable plant to own.

I will bring this inside when colder weather arrives. In answer to those who are perplexed by it's cold hardiness, most musas or ensete stop growing once below a certain temperature, I have read 56F.

Musas and Ensetes often will not lose their stem if kept frost free but leaves will wither, I kept an Ensete ventricosum inside last winter and it started to regrow in spring, with older leaves dying back gradually. The room temperature was not less than 59F (15C), mostly a little above.

Ensete Maurelli is said to be quite hardy, I know of a grower of tropicals here that kept his in a polytunnel for the first winter and planted it out the next summer to establish, losing it's stem over the next winter but regrowing the following year. It had achieved a good height, but the roots must be well mulched to protect from frost.

Because of the size this plant can grow to, if growing in an area which gets frost in the winter you either need to be able to grow it in a very large conservatory, or risk it in the ground and mulch it well. It is supposed to make pups, I would prefer to have some before I try it in the ground but may just have to plant it and take the risk.

The red colour is enhanced by colder weather, greening out in hot climates.

I have this in my garden in Auckland NZ. It grows pretty big and is pretty. BUT, I don't quite think it is as hardy as listed here. Last winter we had a night where it was about 38-39F and all the leaves got brown spots and began to die. It warmed up again and quickly recovered, but a long time of below freezing? Don't know...

Last fall I purchased an Ensete maurelii and plan to put it out into my Raleigh, NC garden in the spring. My understanding from other websites (including Plant Delights Nursery) is that this plant is hardy to Zone 8 and so is more cold tolerant than is listed here. I will find out more before leaving it in the ground next winter - does anyone out there have any experience?

Thanks,
Kathy