Ensete ventricosum (Abyssinian Banana, Ethiopian or False Banana, Red Banana, Wild Banana)
Botanical Information
| Family | Musaceae |
| Genus | Ensete |
| Species | ventricosum |
| Synonyms | Musa arnoldiana, Musa ventricosa, Musa ensete |
| Category | Perennials, Tropicals |
| Origin | Ensete ventricosum's name was first published 1948 in Kew Bull. 1947, p. 101. Its synonyms include Musa arnoldiana De Wild., Musa ventricosa Welw. or Musa ensete J. F. Gmel. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10a - 10b |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H2 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 1 - 5 |
| Temperature (°F) | 34 - 40 |
| Height | 2 - 6 m |
| Spread | 3 m |
| Growth | Fast |
Description and Growing Information
| General Description | Ensete ventricosum is a herbaceous perennial with large, decorative leaves with striking purple midrib and produces red banana-like fruit that is a staple food crop in Ethiopia. |
| Shape | Mounding in youth, tree-like at maturity. |
| Landscape | Best suited to a more sheltered garden. A popular ornamental with striking tropical foliage. Needs lots of space. |
| Cultivation | Grow in a sunny, sheltered location away from wind, requires moist soil. In temperate regions, Marginally more robust than the traditional, cultivated banana (Musa). |
| Pests | Apparent lack of pests and diseases when grown outdoors. Mealybug may be of concern on plants grown indoors. |
| Notable Specimens | The Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. |
| Habitat | Open mountain forests of North Africa to Ethiopia. |
| Leaf Description | Upward pointing, can grow up to 6 m long. |
Photographs
A summer plant (lifted and taken inside for the winter) at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and School of Horticulture, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
Note the red mid-rib on the large leaves.
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