Abyssinian banana

Perennial

Ensete ventricosum

Abyssinian banana

A fast-growing, single-stemmed ornamental banana with huge upright paddle leaves and a red midrib.

  • Full sun, Partial shade
  • 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
  • 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
  • H2 · Zone 10
  • Evergreen
  • RHS Award of Garden Merit

Overview

The Abyssinian or Ethiopian banana grows a stout false stem topped with paddle-shaped leaves up to 3 m (10 ft) long, each with a red midrib beneath. It rarely flowers in gardens; when it does, the stem dies after fruiting.

It tolerates light frost but not freezing, roughly to 1°C (34°F), and is hardy only in USDA zones 10–11. In the tropics and frost-free subtropics it reaches 6 m (20 ft); in cooler climates it is grown in a big pot or planted out for summer at 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft).

Give full sun, rich moist soil, regular feeding and strong shelter from wind.

At a Glance

Sun Full sun, Partial shade
Height 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
Spread 2.5–4 m (8–13 ft)
Hardiness H2 · Zone 10
Soil Loam, Sand
Moisture Moist well drained
Habit Upright
Water High
Maintenance Moderate

Growing Conditions

Min. Temperature 1°C (34°F)
pH Range 5.5–7.5
Fertility Fertile
Drainage Free Draining

Aspect Suitability

  • South-facing
  • West-facing

Soil Tolerance

  • Sandy
  • Loam
  • Acid
  • Neutral pH
  • Alkaline

Foliage

Persistence Evergreen
Colour Green, Red
Leaf shape / texture paddle
  • Architectural foliage

Foliage interest: 12 months of the year

Seasonal Timeline

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Foliage
Propagate
  • Foliage 12 months of the year
  • Propagate Mar Apr

How to propagate

One way to grow more Abyssinian banana: the usual steps for each method.

From seed Mar–Apr Easy
  • Needs light to germinate: press onto the surface, don't cover
  • Soak in warm water for 48 hours before sowing
  • Hard seed coat: nick it with nail clippers or rub it on sandpaper first
  • Germinates best at about 25°C
  • Comes up in 30–180 days
  • Prick out about 4 weeks after sowing
  • Pot on about 10 weeks after sowing
  • Nick the hard coat and soak for two days. Keep at 25–30°C (77–86°F); seed may take months.

You'll need: Seed compost, a seed tray or small pots, labels, and a clear lid or plastic bag.

  1. Fill a tray or pots with seed compost, level it and firm it gently.
  2. Water the compost and let it drain.
  3. Sow the seeds thinly on top. Cover them with a fine layer of compost or vermiculite about as deep as the seed is big; leave tiny seeds uncovered.
  4. Label them, cover with a clear lid or bag, and keep them somewhere bright but out of hot sun.
  5. Keep the compost just moist, and take the cover off once seedlings appear.
How long
Usually comes up in 1 to 3 weeks.
It's worked when
Seedlings with their first pair of leaves.
Then
When each has its first true leaves, prick them out into their own small pots, holding them by a leaf, never the stem. Harden them off for a week or two before planting out.

Grown only from seed, as it does not sucker. Germination is slow and erratic; soak seed and give steady bottom heat.

Maintenance Calendar

  • May Move or plant outside after your last frost
  • Jun Feed every two weeks in summer
  • Jul Water heavily in hot weather
  • Sep Remove dead leaves at the base of the leaf blade
  • Oct Bring under cover or wrap before the first frost

Garden Design

Works well in: Tropical / Exotic

A single-stemmed banana with upright paddle leaves and a red midrib. Plant in the warmest, most sheltered spot to keep leaves unshredded.

Companion planting: Cannas, Colocasias, Gingers, Tree ferns

Wildlife Value

  • Shelter

Safety

Not known to be toxic. The pseudostem dies after flowering, which is rare in cultivation.