Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

red abyssinian or Ethiopian banana ( syn. Musa ensete rubra )

Eventual height & spread

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

red abyssinian or Ethiopian banana ( syn. Musa ensete rubra )

  • 2 litre pot
  • £19.99
  • available to order from autumn
  • 2 × 2 litre pots
  • £24.00 £12.00 each
  • available to order from autumn
Delivery options
  • Standard £5.99
  • Position: full sun or partial shade
  • Soil: humus-rich soil (or loam-based potting compost - John Innes no. 3 for container-grown specimens)
  • Rate of growth: fast
  • Hardiness: tender (will need winter protection)


One of the showiest plants for the summer garden, this Abyssinian banana grows at a rate of knots in summer (if kept well fed and watered), producing amazing burgundy-flushed green leaves. Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' makes a spectacular specimen plant for an exotic-style garden in a frost-free area.

Where temperatures fall below 7°C (45°F), it's best grown in a large pot that can be moved under glass during the colder months, or keep it in a temperate greenhouse, shaded from hot sun throughout the year.


  • Garden care:
    Plant in a sunny, sheltered spot with fertile, well-drained soil, or in a large, frost-proof pot with free-draining genral-purpose compost. Water thoroughly after planting and maintain regular moisture during the growing season, applying a balanced liquid fertiliser once a month.

    Lift outdoor plants before the first frosts, reducing the top growth to the newest 2-3 leaves and trimming long roots, then overwinter under glass in a frost-free greenhouse or indoor space. Apply a 5-7?cm (2-3?in) mulch around the base in summer to conserve moisture, and avoid cutting into old growth,
  • Goes well with