Ensete ventricosum Maurelii - Red Abyssinian Banana - Plant in 10.5 cm Pot

Ensete ventricosum Maurelii in its green form, is found throughout much of northern and central Africa, where it inhabits high rainfall forests on mountains, and along forested ravines and streams. Maurelii, the dark leaved form, is perhaps one of the most spectacular architectural plants you can grow and has been granted the RHS Award of Garden Merit. This Abyssinian Banana grows at an amazing rate in summer, producing truly stunning, huge, thick, dark green leaves, heavily flushed with burgundy shades. A spectacular specimen plant for an exotic style garden border, or as a specimen on a patio in a pot. It will require winter protection or you can simply treat it as an annual. In a pot, use a good quality, free draining, compost with controlled release fertiliser added, to ensure sufficient nutrients. For maximum growth aim to pot on in stages to a pot with a minimum capacity of 10 liters and 3-4 times that if you can provide a really warm sunny location with plenty of room, or grow in a greenhouse or large conservatory. If you wish, you can restrict the growth by using smaller pot sizes. Before the first frosts move the pot into a frost free environment. You can remove all the leaves except the top 2-3. If you plant in the border, the plant should be extensively wrapped to prevent frost from reaching it, or alternatively, the plant can be lifted before the first frosts and have its long roots cut back. All leaves, except the top 2-3, should be removed before placing it in a container in a frost-proof greenhouse or similar. The minimum temperature should aim to be a diurnal average of 5C. During the growing season keep constantly moist and place in a sunny location, but with shade from strong summer sun and protection from harsh winds. The two images with bright blue sky were taken by the author at RHS Wisley in early October 2024. At Wisley these plants are left outside but given extensive wrapped winter protection.

The plants in this listing are very well established and a minimum of 30cm tall, excluding the pot.