Red Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii') in the False Bananas Database

General Plant Information (Edit)
Plant Habit:	Herb/Forb
Life cycle:	Perennial
Sun Requirements:	Full Sun to Partial Shade
Water Preferences:	Mesic
Minimum cold hardiness:	Zone 8b -9.4 °C (15 °F) to -6.7 °C (20 °F)
Maximum recommended zone:	Zone 11
Plant Height:	6 to 20 feet (1.8-6m)
Plant Spread:	8 to 10 feet (2.4-3m)
Leaves:	Good fall color Unusual foliage color Evergreen
Flowers:	Fragrant Other: Infloresence may produce small bananas which are inedible
Flower Time:	Other: Seasonal. Bloom can occur in any season depending on size of plant and climate.
Underground structures:	Corm
Uses:	Vegetable Will Naturalize
Propagation: Seeds:	Will not come true from seed Other info: Propagation is by seed in the wild.
Propagation: Other methods:	Offsets
Containers:	Suitable in 3 gallon or larger Needs excellent drainage in pots
Miscellaneous:	Monocarpic

Common names

Red Abyssinian Banana
Abyssinian Banana
False Banana
Wild Banana

Also sold as:

Ensete maurelii
Ensete ventricosum 'Rubrum'
Ensete maurelii 'Red Abyssinian'

Photo Gallery

Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire UK
Date: 2022-10-11

Uploaded by kniphofia

Location: San Antonio, Texas
Date: 2022-04-03

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2020-09-05

Uploaded by kniphofia

Uploaded by sedumzz

Location: Barson's Greenhouse, Westland, MI
Date: 2012-04-14

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by keithp2012

Location: My backyard.
Date: 2014-10-23
Went from little to huge in 6 months.

Uploaded by tropicgirl

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by duane456

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by DaylilySLP

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by duane456

Uploaded by duane456

Location: Botanical Garden of the University of Münster
Date: 2017-09-19

Uploaded by RuuddeBlock

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by tropicgirl

Location: RHS Harlow Carr, Yorkshire, UK
Date: 2018-07-21

Uploaded by kniphofia

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Uploaded by Joy

Uploaded by tropicgirl

Uploaded by tropicgirl

Uploaded by Calif_Sue

Location: Naples, FL
Date: 2016-10-11
At the Naples Zoo

Uploaded by mellielong

Location: Pembroke, GA
Date: 2016-08-21
Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa Gardens. Used with permission.

Uploaded by Lalambchop1

Uploaded by tropicgirl

Uploaded by tropicgirl

Uploaded by tropicgirl

This plant is tagged in:

Comments:

Posted by RadlyRootbound (East-Central Mississippi - Zone 8a) on Jul 2, 2018 5:53 AM concerning plant:

Not much of a root system on this plant; mostly just a bulb very similar to a young onion, with small, tender roots radiating from the bottom.

Reply to this comment
Posted by eclayne (Pioneer Valley south, MA, USA - Zone 6a) on Nov 4, 2012 9:14 PM concerning plant:

A sport of E. ventricosum, if propagated from seed the typical green leaved species will likely result.

Reply to this comment

Plant Events from our members
RadlyRootbound	On April 4, 2018	Potted up

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Discussion Threads about this plant

Thread Title	Last Reply	Replies
Is the ID correct? by Mangogirl	Apr 2, 2012 8:45 PM	5
Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'): by Barb707	May 30, 2017 5:51 PM	0

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False Bananas Red Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii')

False Bananas

Red Abyssinian Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii')