Ensete spp.

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

HardinessZones 9–11

Overview

Ensete spp. is a genus of about six or seven large, banana-like herbs in the family Musaceae, native to tropical Africa and Asia. Unlike true bananas (Musa spp.), they grow from a single swollen base, do not produce side suckers, and are monocarpic, dying after they flower and set seed once. Plants build a thick, trunk-like pseudostem of overlapping leaf bases and a crown of huge paddle-shaped leaves, reaching 13 to 40 ft (4 to 12 m) tall, with leaves up to 16 ft (5 m) long. A large, pendulous flower spike emerges after several years, followed by dry, inedible fruits packed with hard seeds. E. ventricosum, the Ethiopian banana or enset, is a staple food crop in the Ethiopian highlands, where the starchy pseudostem and corm, not the fruit, are fermented into food. Bronze-leaved forms are grown worldwide as bold foliage plants. The plants are frost-tender, need ample water and feeding, and occupy a large space, which limits their use to big gardens or summer display.

Native Range

Native to tropical and subtropical Africa and Asia, from the mountains of Ethiopia and eastern and southern Africa to India, southern China, and Southeast Asia, growing in moist highlands and forest clearings.

Suggested Uses

Grown as a large foliage feature in tropical-style borders, subtropical bedding, and big containers, the bronze-leaved forms used for summer display in cooler climates. E. ventricosum is cultivated as a staple food and fibre crop in the Ethiopian highlands. The plants give quick height and a bold, leafy effect in a single season.

How to Identify

A very large, banana-like plant forming a single stout pseudostem, often swollen at the base, topped by a rosette of giant paddle-shaped leaves with a strong midrib. Unlike true bananas, the plant produces no suckers around its base. The large hanging flower spike and dry, seedy fruits, along with the lack of offsets, separate it from Musa spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height13' - 40'

Width/Spread8' - 15'

Colors

Flower Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

Each plant flowers only once, after several years of leaf growth, then dies. The large pendulous flower spike, wrapped in overlapping bracts, can appear at any time of year in warm climates. Dry, seed-filled fruits follow.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Cream with red-brown bracts

Foliage Description

Green, bronze-red in some forms

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 6-10 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.0(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

Flowers after 4-8 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Ensete grows in full sun to light shade in deep, fertile, moisture-retentive soil with steady feeding, at a pH from about 5.5 to 7.0. The plants need heavy feeding and frequent watering and grow quickly in warmth, but they have little frost tolerance and are damaged below about 28F (minus 2C). In cold climates they are grown from seed or bought as young plants, moved into large containers, and overwintered under frost-free cover. Sheltered positions prevent the big leaves from shredding in wind. Because each plant dies after flowering, replacements are raised from seed. Ample summer water is essential during active growth.

Pruning

Pruning is limited to removing old, torn, or frost-damaged leaves to keep the plant tidy. The whole plant is cleared after it flowers and dies. In containers, tatty lower leaves are trimmed through the season.