Ensete
Ventricosum 'maurellii' or Red Abyssinian Banana is the über plant of the subtropical
world.
This
banana-like perennial has large paddle-shaped leaves, which range in color from
deep claret brown to a rich burgundy red to pale green, produced from the
center of the plant, with thick midribs bright red beneath.
It can reach 20 feet or more in its native tropical and subtropical forests of Africa.
White flowers are
borne in inflorescences 3 to 4 feet long. Fruits are banana-like but dry and
unpalatable. The
very large hard seeds are inedible.
It does not produce suckers so must be grown from seed or by tissue culture.
It does not produce suckers so must be grown from seed or by tissue culture.
It is very
fast growing, but difficult to flower in northern climates.
It will grow
well in full sun to partial shade. Makes an outstanding focal point in a large
container or planted in the ground.
HTUK Dave, Hardy Tropicals UK,
shows how he went about preparing and digging out his 10ft Ensete
ventricosum 'Maurelii' - Red Abyssinian Banana ready for dry storing
overwinter.
How fortunate we are that here on the coast of Granada, Andalucia we do not have to go to such lengths to keep this magnificent plant.
It can easily survive our frost free winters happily growing in our jungle corner of the garden in the small banana plantation, sheltered from the sea breezes or the colder winds blowing down from the high snow covered sierra.
