Ensetes on the Big Island

[Justin]

I saw some Ensetes (ornamental bananas) in SoCal recently, and it made me think it was odd that I haven't seen any in Hawaii.  I'm not sure if that is because of lack of plants, poor growing conditions, or something else.  Does anyone know how Ensetes would do in Hawaii, either in drier conditions or in the rainforest?

[Kim]

I clearly remember seeing them at Lyon Arboretum. Can't think why they wouldn't thrive in your garden. They might multiply too quickly?  No idea...

[Kailua_Krish]

They've used them in the new planting a at Ala Moana but I've never seen them for sale 

[Hammer]

Ensete seem to appreciate cooler temps.  More of a cloud forest type situation.  Perhaps over time they don't look their best without cool night time temps?

[Cikas]

Ensete are native to Africa and South Asia ( India, Thailand, Papua New Guinea ect.  ). Soo they prefer tropical climate without cool nights.

Also Ensete are different than Musa. Ensete bananas can naturally multiply only by seeds. Ensete normally do not sucker like Musa bananas. They flower only once and die. Soo you must buy new ones every few years.

[Justin]

I'm all the more miffed that these are tough to come by, after seeing these responses.  I'll see what I dig up (no pun intended).

[Hammer]

4 hours ago, Cikas said:

Ensete are native to Africa and South Asia ( India, Thailand, Papua New Guinea ect.  ). Soo they prefer tropical climate without cool nights.

Also Ensete are different than Musa. Ensete bananas can naturally multiply only by seeds. Ensete normally do not sucker like Musa bananas. They flower only once and die. Soo you must buy new ones every few years.

Ensete ventricosum/maurellii grow in tropical Africa, yes.  But grow at a fair bit of altitude.  About 3,300 feet (1,000 meters) to 5,250 feet (1,600 meters).  There preferred temp range is 60°f to 75°f or 16C to 24C.  Warmer than temperate but not exactly Amazonian.

[Monòver]

I have Ensete ventricosum var. Maurelli and it is growing fast and healthy with my spanish Summer.

Last four months with temps between 22°-30°.

[Danilopez89]

They don't like real heat... a few nights of cooler night temps (75°f) and they pushed new growth and colored up with a bit of nice red colors.

They are fast growers but as soon as our night temps warm up they lose all their nice color and look like a regular green banana plant.

[kirkhutch]

I have one in Tucson AZ. It actually handled full sun throughout the summer but as mentioned they lose some of the deep color in those conditions. Winds ripped mine up a few days ago...

[TexasColdHardyPalms]

I grow and sell hundreds of e. Ventricosum and glacuum every year.  The size of glacuum is impressive while the color of ventricosum is unique for a tropical that will survive zone 8 winters. 

[richnorm]

On 9/27/2016, 12:51:05, Justin said:

I'm all the more miffed that these are tough to come by, after seeing these responses.  I'll see what I dig up (no pun intended).

They are very easy from seed (borderline invasive here).

[Al in Kona]

When I finally found a few plants of Ensete ventricosum var. Maurellii at a nursery here on Hawaii Island I bought one and planted it in our upslope garden in south Kona at an elevation of about 1,250 ft,  It grew slowly during our winter season with slightly cooler nights but the long summer season with even warmer days and nights it gradually succumbed,  This is such a beautiful plant when grown in a climate that suits it.  I remember seeing magnificent big plants growing in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City with their high elevation and mild cool temperatures in a tropical latitude.  No, unfortunately you don't see them growing in Hawaii, at least not at lower elevations.

[Hammer]

2 hours ago, Al in Kona said:

When I finally found a few plants of Ensete ventricosum var. Maurellii at a nursery here on Hawaii Island I bought one and planted it in our upslope garden in south Kona at an elevation of about 1,250 ft,  It grew slowly during our winter season with slightly cooler nights but the long summer season with even warmer days and nights it gradually succumbed,  This is such a beautiful plant when grown in a climate that suits it.  I remember seeing magnificent big plants growing in Chapultepec Park in Mexico City with their high elevation and mild cool temperatures in a tropical latitude.  No, unfortunately you don't see them growing in Hawaii, at least not at lower elevations.

Thanks for the perspective. That sounds pretty consistent with my experience in California and reading of its preferences.