PLANT AN ETHIOPIAN BLACK BANANA!
Add a ‘touch of the tropics’ with this fine specimen
IF you’re looking to bring a touch of the tropics to your garden, or seeking a specimen plant that’ll be the talk of the neighbourhood, you can’t beat the Ethiopian black banana.
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ rapidly grows to 8ft (2.5m), bearing huge burgundy leaves that are flushed with shades of green.
It’s so vigorous that I’m growing it in a pot to restrict its roots. However, it’ll still tower above me, as long as we have a bit of summer warmth. It’s just the ticket for growing with tropical-looking plants such as cannas and dahlias. In the UK, it’s unlikely to flower, but is grown for its dramatic foliage and sheer size.
If you prefer to grow it in a border, that’s fine, although it’ll have to be lifted, potted-up and brought under glass before the frosts (or treat it as bedding, and compost it in autumn). Plants thrive in well-drained loam or sandy soil – they’re not fussy, so any acid, alkaline or neutral soil will do.
Whether you’re growing it in a border or pot, good light is essential. Full-sun is ideal, although it will tolerate partial shade (a south or west-facing position is best). Make sure it’s sheltered, as wind can damage the huge leaves. In high-summer, bananas will need regular watering. And I liquid feed every two or three weeks with MiracleGro or Phostrogen from July into August.
Please note that this is a tender banana that will not appreciate temperatures below 7°C (45°F) – unlike Musa basjoo, the hardy banana, which can survive outdoors over winter if wrapped in horticultural fleece. If you plan to overwinter an Ensete banana, keep a close eye on the weather forecast come September. Ahead of the frosts, reduce the top growth to the newest few leaves before moving into a frost-free greenhouse or conservatory before temperatures dip.
It only takes one brief frost to wipe out a tender banana plant. I speak from experience, as a spectacular plant collapsed into a giant pile of mush on a cold September night a few years ago!