Ensete ventricosum

This photo would look so beautiful as a framed print...it is gorgeous...

beautifully photographed M

This is lovely, does it survive frosts? Dawn

Milky,

This plant is not in the genus Musa...it is Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' . It is however, in the Musaceae (banana) family. These plants are very widely grown in California...the drawback is once they bloom they die and don't produce pups.

I've read and heard that the huge bloom tip can be replanted, I have never attempted this though.

Isnt it Andy, I have grown it from seed which I bought from Thompson and Morgan, a huge seed supplier over here and its Musa Ensete on the seed packet, so please forgive my error. It also doesnt mention that it flowers at all so thankyou for the information Regards Maureen

That's such a good photo, Maureen. I am green with envy at your ability to grow it from SEED! Well done! :-)

I never tried anything remotely tropical or mediterrainean until old sleeping patrtner bought me a greenhouse, but now I try to raise just 1 something every year. ever tried Callistemon. the seed is like fluff but i did raise 5 last summer Thanks Spritz, glad you like it

Milky,

This plant is commonly listed under the genus Musa...and I assume it's because its in the family Musaceae.

This is very impressive that you grew this plant from seed. I have never tried growing any plant in the Musaceae family from seed. This plant is so widely available at nurseries for a very low price that I've never heard of any planting it from seed. And all named banana varieties are usually sold as potted plants or I just get a pup from a friend or neighbor.

well Andy, when Ray bought me the greenhouse, I went a bit silly in the seed catalogue. I bought these, plumeria, callistemon and Fiejoa to try. Only got germination on 1 banana and plumeria as you know and several callistemon and 1 feijoa. Callistemon were the worst as the seed was just like fluff. I dont think I did too badly for for the Ist attempt. Maureen