Ensete

False Banana

Ensete produce large banana-like leaf blades and can grow up to 5m tall by 1m wide, with leaves which have a salmon-pink midrib. The flowers only occur once from the centre of the plant at the end of that plant's life. The fruits are inedible and have hard, black, rounded seeds. After flowering, the plant dies.

Contributed by @happycanuck

plant Features

Full sun
Frequent watering
Not Frost hardy
Rich and free draining

plant information

Common name

False Banana

Latin name

Ensete

type

Tender plant

family

Musaceae

ph

6.0 - 7.5 Acid - Neutral

Light

Full sun
Frost

Not Frost hardy

Soil

Rich and free draining
Water

Frequent watering

Plant & bloom calendar

Best time to plant

full grown dimensions

The size of a fully grown False Banana is 1.00meters x 5.00meters

1.00 M 5.00 M

Ensete

Planting young plants

From Late Spring TO Late Spring

When planting young plants, choose a sheltered site, out of known frost pockets. Shelter from the wind is also essential to prevent leaves being shredded. Plant in late spring, in a well-drained soil, enriched with well rotted manure or organic compost. Once plants are established, water and feed generously to get the best foliage. Smaller banana species make ideal container plants, which can be placed outdoors for the summer and brought indoors over winter. Plant in a loam-based compost, such as John Innes No. 3 with extra grit and site them in full direct sunlight and keep well watered.

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