Dessert
Red Banana (Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii') is a stunning tropical perennial that brings drama to any garden with its towering stature and deep burgundy foliage. Hardy in zones 10-11, this fast-growing giant can reach 8 to 10 feet tall and wide, creating an instant focal point with its enormous paddle-shaped leaves and showy seasonal flowers and fruit. Despite its name and banana-like appearance, it's technically an Abyssinian banana, a wild ancestor to culinary bananas, distinguished by its stronger leaf structure and more upright growth habit. In colder climates, gardeners treat it as a spectacular container specimen, moving it indoors for winter, where its dramatic presence transforms any space.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
120in H x 96in W
Perennial
High
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The foliage is the real spectacle here: massive deep red and burgundy leaves that can stretch 10 to 20 feet long in mature plants, creating an architectural statement that few other perennials can match. Unlike true bananas, Red Banana doesn't produce invasive suckers, keeping it tidy and easier to manage. The showy seasonal flowers and equally striking fruit add another layer of visual interest, making this plant earn its space through every season of growth. Grown in organically rich soil with consistent moisture and full sun, it becomes a fast-growing giant that transforms quickly from a modest starter into a landscape showstopper.
While technically edible, Red Banana is grown primarily for its spectacular ornamental presence rather than its fruit. Its colossal paddlelike leaves and deep burgundy coloring make it an exceptional specimen plant in tropical and subtropical gardens, where it serves as a living architectural element. In cooler climates, it thrives in large containers positioned as a dramatic seasonal accent, brought indoors before frost arrives. The showy flowers and fruit add seasonal interest, though the plant's real appeal lies in its foliage impact and the sense of tropical abundance it creates.
Sow seeds indoors in warm conditions between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to encourage germination. Start seeds 6 to 8 weeks before your last frost date if you plan to move plants outdoors for the growing season.
Transplant hardened-off seedlings outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed. Space plants 6 to 8 feet apart to allow for their mature width of 6 to 8 feet. In containers, use large pots filled with rich, well-draining potting mix, and position where they'll receive full sun.
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“Ensete ventricosum, commonly called the Abyssinian or wild banana, traces its origins to the highlands of Ethiopia and the broader African tropics. It's a close relative of the commercial bananas we know (genus Musa), but remained distinct enough to earn its own botanical classification, prized for its stronger midrib structure and different growth pattern. The 'Maurelii' cultivar specifically, with its deep burgundy and red foliage, represents a selection that emphasizes ornamental qualities, the dramatic colored foliage that makes it a showstopper in gardens rather than a primary food crop. This variety has become a fixture in tropical and subtropical gardening worldwide, treasured by collectors and landscape designers who appreciate its architectural presence and the way its deep coloring adds drama to plantings.”