JunglePlants

A larger version of the Abyssinian Banana not so well known, sometimes called Musa nepalensis or Ensete giganteum, or Ensete wilsonii. It grows in China up to 2600-8800ft, Nepal, India, Burma, and Thailand.  It has a thick, waxy and blue, solitary trunk with huge bluish leaves up to 10ft/3m long. An extremely fast growing banana given heat, but after trials it has proven not to be so hardy as the Abyssinian banana and not suitable for summer bedding without micro climate protection.

We offer and always have offered a large micro propagated selected clone of maurelii with a more upright habit than the original clone and similar to the smaller "Tandarra Red" being offered by some garden centres? Our form of this superb plant has to be the king of all banana's. The one shown in the picture was grown in our front garden and stood at about 9ft tall in late July in it's second season after over wintering in a Polytunnel! Easily reaching 6ft in the first year from small plants and 8ft to 10ft from our larger plants.The fabulous red, stained foliage is enhanced in our cool climate, turning almost completely green in tropical high temperatures. Easy and fast growing, although not hardy, it enjoys our cool summers - Will require over wintering in a greenhouse or conservatory.

A recent re-introduction into the UK by David Constantine this ensete was originally documented in 1930 but fell out of cultivation. An upright, elegant ensete with thicker leaves that are a bit greener without the same wonderful deep red colouring as maurelii. A very tall plant once it gets going with a red midrib to the very long thin leaves, the attractive red strip also continues down the stems. This is a collectors item though and we will only have a limited number available. (You might need a very tall conservatory to overwinter this one!)

We usually have a small number of Ensete superbum plants grown from seed each year. This large ornamental banana from Thailand has a bottle-shaped, blueish, waxy trunk and enormous leaves. Grows quickly and should easily be in 3 litre pots or larger by mid summer.

We have a few large plants about so subject to availability. The Ensetes are a separate species within the Musa family with strong attractive light green stiff leaves. Ventricosum has a red midrib and a white bloom to the reverse side of the leaves.  A stunning foliage plant with much heavier and thicker leaves that withstands high winds a little better than Basjoo but not hardy enough to overwinter outside.

A very rare variegated form of Musa paradisiaca, a tall fruiting banana much sort after by enthusiasts. It cannot be propagated by seed or micropropagation and plants are only rarely offered for sale as they have to be grown from suckering shoots. It needs a minimum winter temperature of 15C to 18C in a warm humid glasshouse so not really suitable for anyone unless you are experienced with growing tropical plants but not as difficult as many enthusiasts make out. Our plants reach 7ft tall within 12 months each year before we have to cut them back.

A hardy Banana actually from China that you can leave out all winter. This tall slender banana with bright green leaves makes a very architectural plant in the garden. It soon develops suckers to form a clump effect so reminiscent of the bananas seen in tropical countries. If you protect the main stem in winter with for example chimney liner pots in-filled with straw and covered with a suitable artifact that keeps the rain out but allowing the plant to breath, this may keep the main growing stem alive. It should then continue to grow the following spring with the plant making enough growth in our summer to possibly reach flowering size. Normally the plant would be cut down after the first frost damage and the rootstock protected with straw or bracken during winter, in spring shoots from the base exceed 6ft to 7ft by September.

If you have the headroom this is one of the bananas of commerce producing large hands of slightly smaller bananas on a plant reaching 10ft or so. Flower and fruit could be expected in three years providing sufficient heat, food, sunlight and water are provided. At this time the base of the main stem will be about 15" diameter. Many suckers develop but from my experience these sap the strength of the plant and are best removed if you intend to grow it to fruiting size. If left on, the plant will quickly develop multiple stems making an attractive clump of banana leaved foliage. (Needs a minimum night temperature all year round of 18C and 25C plus during the day)

Not surprisingly Musa Cavendishi Super Dwarf proved really popular with our customers every year. The chance to grow a real small fruiting banana in your conservatory or greenhouse which fruits at about 1 metre tall is not to be missed.

The hardiest fruiting Banana, Rajapuri, comes from high altitudes in India. If you want to give this one a go in a large conservatory protected over winter, but bedded out during the summer, we have plants available. It will tolerate our cool summers far better than other fruiting varieties and far easier to over winter under glass than Musa cavendishi, but you will need space for it to fruit! Attractive plant with a white bloom on the robust leaves and stems. The picture is one of our own plants fruiting in a polytunnel in a large pot (a mini muck bucket with holes drilled in the bottom) during winter 2005/6 .

Musa sikkimensis originates from 6,000ft in the Himalayas, and is significantly larger than basjoo. Already it is proving to be more suitable than Basjoo in our tricky summer climate, more resilient to winds and continues to grow in cool weather when Basjoo almost stops. Trials over the last few years prove that it over winters outdoors successful given the same treatment. Extremely attractive with young leaves either mottled maroon or with a maroon reverse.

A new sikkimensis hybrid that is taller, more robust and faster growing than the type but we think, just as hardy as sikkimensis. The new leaves have a red flush to the reverse adding to the attraction.

This is an interesting novelty for planting out in summer as bedding or keeping in the conservatory. A small slender plant with narrow leaves to about 4ft, which flowers at a very young age (usually in the second year) producing a very attractive red and cream flower spike that stays reasonably upright. The novelty is the hand of small pink velvety bananas which form quite a talking point. In my youth when I first grew this plant I would ask my girl friends if they would like to come and see my pink furry bananas! This banana suckers readily from the base to produce a nice clump for next year, or you can cut them off for additional plants to grow on. It will need a warm greenhouse (10C), or Conservatory for successful over wintering but is hardier than commonly believed.

To Grow -- Easy ■ Moderate ■ and Challenging ■

May be ok for a dry Conservatory ♣

Hardiness - To -5°C җ To -10°C җ җ Fully Hardy җ җ җ

Needs Shady Position ☻ Sunny Position ☻ Water Loving ♥