Mature Height: 3 - 10 feet
Mature Spread: 6 - 10 feet
Other Names: Banana Tree, Lydia Banana
Description:
Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'
Huge, paddle-shaped leaves in rich green flushed with burgundy and ruby rise from a stout pseudostem, creating a tropical vertical presence. With fast summer growth, ‘Maurelii’ can hit 8-10 feet in a growing season and spread 6-8 feet wide in favourable conditions. The foliage has red midribs and red-tinged undersides, especially vivid when the plant receives strong light and ample moisture. Flowers are rare in most gardens; the plant is grown for its dramatic leaves.
Growing best in full sun or bright partial shade, it prefers rich, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Keep it well watered during the warm season and feed regularly. Because it is frost-sensitive, the aerial parts are usually killed by even light frost; in colder climates the plant must be protected, grown in containers, or overwintered in a frost-free place.
Protection Information: NA
Flowering Only License, Propagation is Prohibited
Photos courtesy of Proven Winners
"Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'" by Katherine Wagner-Reiss via Wikimedia Commons