Red banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii')
The stunning Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' (Red banana) creates an instant tropical impact with huge leaves featuring maroon tints.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
The Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’, commonly known as the Red banana, is prized by gardeners for the immediate, dramatic tropical ambiance it casts upon a landscape or container display. This herbaceous perennial delivers massive, paddle-shaped foliage, but the ‘Maurelii’ cultivar distinguishes itself with emerging leaves exhibiting beautiful maroon-red tints and reddish leaf axils. As a fast-growing specimen, it quickly establishes a bold, architectural presence, making it a classic choice for lending an exotic flair where space allows.
While native to tropical regions, gardeners in cooler climates can successfully use this plant as a spectacular annual feature or painstakingly overwinter it indoors. It requires ample attention, thriving best when provided with rich soil, consistent moisture, and protection from harsh weather elements. The sheer scale and coloration of the leaves on the Red banana make it far more valuable ornamentally than its dry, inedible fruit production.
Successful cultivation of Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ hinges on matching its high demands for sun and water, especially during the growing season. By understanding its overwintering needs, temperate gardeners can enjoy the theatrical splendor of this Abyssinian banana year after year, ensuring this giant of the Musaceae family remains the focal point of the garden design.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Musaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 10-11
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 8-10 ft
- Spread: 6-8 ft
- Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
- Sun Exposure: Full sun
- Water Needs: Medium
- Maintenance Level: High
How to Grow
Planting the Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is best done late in spring after all danger of frost has passed, allowing the plant maximum time to grow during the warm season. Whether planting in the ground or in a large container, ensure the site provides organically rich, well-drained soil. While full sun is ideal, this plant tolerates and may even appreciate some filtered afternoon light during extreme summer heat.
Care requires vigilance regarding moisture. The Red banana needs consistently moist soils that should never be allowed to dry out completely. Fertilization must be regular throughout the active growing season to fuel the production of those massive leaves. Furthermore, locate the plant in a spot sheltered from strong winds, as the large foliage is easily shredded, diminishing its ornamental appeal.
For gardeners outside Zones 10-11, overwintering is mandatory. If grown in a container, plants should be brought indoors before the first frost, perhaps treated as a large houseplant with reduced water and fertilizer. For plants installed in the ground, the entire root system must be carefully dug up, bagged, and stored in cool, dark, frost-free conditions indoors before winter sets in.
Landscape Uses
The primary role of the Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ in the garden is a towering, striking specimen plant. It immediately injects an undeniable exotic and tropical aura, transforming even a modest landscape into something dramatic. Because it requires significant space—up to 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide—it should be sited where its size is an asset, such as at the end of a sightline or centered in a large patio area.
For container culture, the Red banana acts as a magnificent focal point, surrounded by smaller, heat-loving annuals that do not compete for its deep soil moisture needs. If planting in the ground, ensure that you do not plan to transplant later, as Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is notoriously difficult to move once established, making its initial placement crucial.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Fruit Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
The species, Ensete ventricosum, is often called Abyssinian banana, growing to massive heights in its native range, but the ‘Maurelii’ cultivar is relatively more compact, typically reaching 8 to 10 feet tall in temperate regions. Unlike true bananas (Musa), this plant has a stronger central leaf midrib and rarely produces suckers, contributing to its cleaner, singular architectural form. Gardeners prize this cultivar strictly for its ornamental foliage, which emerges with attractive maroon-red tints, providing excellent contrast against bright green landscape companions.
Tolerances
- None listed
Potential Problems
While the Red banana typically avoids major pest outbreaks, vigilant inspection is necessary, particularly when overwintering indoors or during hot, dry spells. Watch closely for common houseplant pests such as aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, and scale insects. Furthermore, this species is susceptible to fungal and viral issues, including anthracnose, wilt, and mosaic virus. Ensuring excellent drainage and avoiding overly wet or soggy soil conditions will significantly reduce the risk of soil-borne pathogens like wilt.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Red banana suitable for?
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is winter hardy only to USDA Zones 10 and 11, requiring significant protection or overwintering indoors in colder climates.
How large does Red banana grow?
This herbaceous perennial typically reaches a height between 8 and 10 feet, with a spread ranging from 6 to 8 feet at maturity.
What sun exposure does Red banana need?
The ideal placement for Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is in full sun, though it can manage with some protection from intense afternoon rays.
When does Red banana bloom?
This plant is classified as a seasonal bloomer, though young plants may take three to five years to mature enough to produce flowers and fruit.
Conclusion
The Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is unmatched when seeking an immediate, bold, tropical statement piece for your hot season landscape. Its maroon-tinted foliage ensures the Red banana provides high visual impact wherever it is grown boldly. Before planting, confirm your zone compatibility or map out a dedicated, protected overwintering plan to ensure this spectacular specimen thrives year after year.
Companion Planting
To best complement the high water and nutrient demands of the Red banana, select tropical or sub-tropical companions that share similar cultural needs. Large-leafed caladiums or elephant ears (Colocasia) thrive in the same moist, rich soil conditions and mirror the exotic aesthetic of Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’. Avoid placing shallow-rooted plants nearby, as the banana will quickly absorb available moisture and nutrients.
Container Growing
Growing the Red banana in containers is highly recommended for gardeners in areas subject to frost, simplifying the required overwintering process. Use a very large pot with an extremely well-drained potting mix that is rich in organic matter. The key to success in containers is diligent moisture management; the soil must remain consistently moist but never waterlogged, as restricted drainage in pots can exacerbate root issues.
