No exotic garden would be complete nowadays if it didn’t contain an Ensete Maurelii. The massive paddle leaves of glossy luminous green and purple make an unforgettable first impression in any UK garden. Growing up to 1.5m in it’s first season these foliage favourites can reach up to 5m in height in just a few years. We might not be coming across them in some forgotten corner of a neglected garden in ten years time though, like the once essential pampus grass, because these ‘must haves’ are not hardy. In fact, they are quite a tricky beast to get through the average UK winter freeze once they reach monster size. It’s easy in the first year, they can be treated as a houseplant if you have the room (but they must have as much light as you can muster or the leaves will wither), but in subsequent years the bigger boys will have to be dry stored.
Ensete bananas go under many common names including Abyssinian Banana, Ethiopian Banana and false banana. It originates from the east side of Africa and can be found in Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It is monocarpic meaning that it flowers, makes seeds and then dies.
It is a significant source of food in Ethiopia. It is fast growing but is not frost hardy. Ensete bananas have been grown in Ethiopia for thousands of years.
Easy to grow during the summer if kept well watered. In the winter they must be taken into a frost free environment. Small plants can be treated as a house plant but larger plants must be dry stored. They first need digging up and their leaves removing and then the soil needs to be washed from the roots. Hang upside down for a week to dry and then store in perlite over winter in a dark place. Sulphur can be applied to the roots to prevent rot
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’
Red Abyssinian Banana
Family: Musaceae
Life cycle: Tender, monocarpic perennial
Origin: Cultivated form of an Ethiopian species
Primary value: Architectural foliage
Botanical Description
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ forms a single, robust pseudostem composed of tightly sheathing leaf bases. Leaves are very large, oblong-elliptic, with a strong central midrib, emerging deep burgundy-red and maturing to green flushed with red. Unlike Musa, this species does not produce offsets. Flowering occurs only at full maturity and is rare in temperate cultivation; after flowering the plant dies.
Position
- Aspect: Warm, sheltered position
- Light: Full sun for strongest colour and fastest growth; tolerates light shade
- Exposure: Protect from strong winds to prevent tearing of foliage
Soil
- Type: Deep, fertile, moisture-retentive but free-draining soil
- Structure: Loam enriched with organic matter (well-rotted compost or manure)
- Drainage: Essential; waterlogging leads to root and pseudostem rot
Soil pH
- Preferred pH: Slightly acidic to neutral
- Range: pH 5.5–7.0
Planting
- Timing: Late spring to early summer, once all risk of frost has passed
- Spacing: Allow ample room for spread and height
- Container growing: Use very large, heavy pots to stabilise the plant and retain moisture
Watering
- Growing season: Water generously; soil should remain consistently moist
- Hot weather: Container plants may require daily watering
- Dormant period: Reduce watering significantly, keeping compost barely moist
Feeding
- Nutrient demand: High
- Fertiliser: Balanced or high-nitrogen feed applied regularly during active growth
- Frequency: Every 2–3 weeks in summer, or use a slow-release fertiliser at planting
- Winter: Do not feed
Hardiness
- Hardiness rating: Tender
- Minimum temperature: 0 °C (damage occurs below this)
- Ideal growing temperature: 18–30 °C
- Cold tolerance: Growth slows below 10 °C
Overwintering
In containers:
Move to a frost-free, bright location such as a greenhouse or conservatory. Maintain minimal watering.
In open ground:
Lift before frost, cut back foliage to a short stump, remove loose soil, and store upright in a cool, dry, frost-free environment until spring.
Pruning & Maintenance
- Remove damaged or senescent leaves at the base
- Avoid damaging the central growing point
- Repot container plants as required to prevent root restriction
Garden Use
A bold focal plant for tropical and sub-tropical planting schemes. Best used singly or in association with large-leaved companions such as Colocasia, Canna, and gingers.
Cultivation Summary
Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ is an exceptionally dramatic foliage plant requiring warmth, moisture, and fertility. While not difficult to grow, it demands space, feeding, and winter protection. When well cultivated, it provides unrivalled architectural impact in temperate gardens.