Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', also known as Ethiopina banana, Abyssinian banana or Red banana, make a spectacular showpiece in any garden.  Their huge, upright, paddle shaped leaves of burgundy, red-brown and green have a glaucous bloom.  They are fast growing in the summer months if watered regularly and fed monthly.  They need sheltering before the first frosts and overwintering indoors.  Cut back long roots and reduce to the newest 2-3 leaves for optimum growth in the summer.