Ensete Maurelli zone 9

[Keys6505]

Does anyone have experience with Maurelli's in-ground in z9?  I'm trying to find out what temp will kill them.  I can't find any real freeze data online, some sites say they're suitable for z9 but there is nothing solid to back that up.  I used to overwinter them bare root in the garage with no issues but now that I am in z9 I'd like to leave them planted if possible.  I'm also curious as to whether digging in any way disrupts their flowering cycle?  It's a pretty good size plant and I'm not looking forward to starting over.  Thanks

[Silas_Sancona]

29 minutes ago, Keys6505 said:

Does anyone have experience with Maurelli's in-ground in z9?  I'm trying to find out what temp will kill them.  I can't find any real freeze data online, some sites say they're suitable for z9 but there is nothing solid to back that up.  I used to overwinter them bare root in the garage with no issues but now that I am in z9 I'd like to leave them planted if possible.  I'm also curious as to whether digging in any way disrupts their flowering cycle?  It's a pretty good size plant and I'm not looking forward to starting over.  Thanks

Very common -and commonly sold- back in San Jose CA. Most of which is zone 9 -to some degree ( though that will likely change closer to 10A -in most parts of town- soon ). There, several hours where temperatures bottomed out around about 28-27F seemed to cause pretty serious -but not fatal damage ( bigger specimens ). Imagine anything below 26F/ freezing of the ground could turn the tubers to mush/ kill smaller sized plants outright.. Obviously, multiple nights where it would get that cold would be worse than a quick dip to 28F, right as the sun were coming up, on a morning or two over the entire winter.

[Jeff985]

Plant it. They do well here. I have two in my yard and another at my rent house in Katy, which is colder than League City. @OC2Texaspalmlvr has a huge one in his front yard in League City also. If we get a frost the leaves will burn but it will grow new ones pretty fast, even in winter. 

[Keys6505]

7 hours ago, Jeff985 said:

Plant it. They do well here. I have two in my yard and another at my rent house in Katy, which is colder than League City. @OC2Texaspalmlvr has a huge one in his front yard in League City also. If we get a frost the leaves will burn but it will grow new ones pretty fast, even in winter. 

Perfect.  Exactly what I wanted to hear.  Thanks!

 

Any idea how to delay (or prevent) flowering?

Edited November 14, 2020 by Keys6505

[Jeff985]

4 minutes ago, Keys6505 said:

Perfect.  Exactly what I wanted to hear.  Thanks!

 

Any idea how to delay (or prevent) flowering?

Can’t help you with that one. 

[OC2Texaspalmlvr]

So I ended up taking them out @Jeff985 cause where I had them they grew too large. The leaves were getting shredded by the side of the house. I dont believe the winters here will ever kill them outright. The speed of growth here is unbelievable. Plant it and watch it grow @Keys6505