Like the more familiar banana plants in the Musa genus, this red- and green-leaved banana species is the size of a tree but is actually a giant herbaceous plant. Ensete ventricosum is one of several ornamental banana plants available to gardeners in zones 9 to 11. A favored variety with strong red coloration is “Maurelii,” which grows 12 to 15 feet (3.5 to 4.5 meters) tall and 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 meters) wide. Its name comes from its red-skinned fruit, very notably different from the modern supermarket bananas. Though the bananas they produce are not edible, Ensete plants do produce food in the form of a starchy corm (underground storage organ) and a starchy stem base. The seeds germinate easily if planted in small pots of sterile, multi-purpose compost at a depth of 1 inch. Growing ornamental bananas in large pots is also possible. Loose, rich soil is the way to go for planting this particular fruit tree. More information. The Red Banana tree is a medium to large evergreen plant with large oar-shaped leaves. Water the plant weekly, more often during the hottest part of summer. It can be used as a summer bedding plant in cooler climates, otherwise plant it straight into the ground, and stand back. Create a Tropical Atmosphere Skip to the beginning of the images gallery, How to Avoid Creating Air Pockets When Planting, What to Know Before Planting a Tree or Plant, Beautiful large shrub for tropical and sub-tropical yards. After a few years, your adult banana tree will produce a large flower bud and then a bunch of small banana-like fruit full of small black seeds. Ornamental red banana trees can belong to either the Ensete or Musa genera. Looking for that tropical feel with a splash of colour? Well-established plants can survive drought, but they won’t look their best without adequate water. Sign up for our newsletter. For this occasion, it helps to go with a large shovel, considering that it will be a large plant when it reaches maturity. Copyright © 2020 Moon Valley Nurseries. The Furst liquid technologies that... What if we told you that our designers could help you increase your home's value by over 28% ? All Rights Reserved. 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Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. It cannot tolerate frost and dislikes high humidity. Ensete, also known as enset, is an important food crop in Ethiopia, and an ornamental plant enjoyed in landscapes around the world. Source: Starr Environmental. But did you know there are also various types of the ornamental red banana plant too, specifically grown for their attractive red foliage color? There are many types of banana plants available to the home gardener, many of which produce copious amounts  of fruit. You may also find this ornamental plant labeled as Red Abyssinian banana (Ensete maurelii), which has the same striking foliage flushed with burgundy-red. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Rarely Found Red Leaved Banana Enset trees also grow more slowly than Musa banana trees and have lifespans ranging from 3 to 10 or more years. 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