Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'
red abyssinian or Ethiopian banana ( syn. Musa ensete rubra )


One of the showiest plants for the summer garden, this Abyssinian banana grows at a rate of knots in summer (if kept well fed and watered), producing amazing burgundy-flushed green leaves. It makes a spectacular specimen plant for an exotic-style garden in a frost-free area. Where temperatures fall below 7°C (45°F), it's best grown in a large pot that can be moved under glass during the colder months, or keep it in a temperate greenhouse, shaded from hot sun throughout the year.
How to care for Ensete ventricosum Maurelii:
During the growing season water regularly and apply a balanced liquid fertiliser each month. In frost-prone areas lift outdoor specimens before the first frosts, reducing the top-growth to the newest 2 or 3 leaves and cutting back the long roots. Overwinter under glass in a frost-free greenhouse until all risk of frost has passed.
Eventual height:
5m
Eventual spread:
4m
Position:
Full sun
Rate of growth:
Average
Soil:
Moderately fertile, moist, well-drained soil
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This perennial is semi-evergreen so it can lose some of its leaves in winter. In colder regions or more exposed gardens, it may lose them all, but then fresh new growth appears again in spring.
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Goes well with
Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria'
cardinal flower
From £9.99
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2 litre pot | £18.99 |
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9cm pot | £9.99 |
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3 × 9cm pots | £22.99 |
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6 × 9cm pots | £36.99 |
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3 × 2 litre pots | £49.99 |
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Verbena bonariensis
purple top
From £2.49
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9cm pot | £7.99 |
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2 litre pot | £17.99 |
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3 × 9cm pots | £17.99 |
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3 × 2 litre pots | £44.99 |
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approx 250 seeds | £2.49 |
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3 × packets (approx 750 seeds) | £6.00 |
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