Ensete ventricosum - Ethiopian Banana

Family:	Musaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	6
Width:	3
Synonyms:	Musa ensete. M. ventricosum.
Range:	N. Africa - Ethiopia.

Ensete ventricosum (Ethiopian Banana) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 6m and a width of 3m . It has a hardness rating of 10and is quite resiliant to frost.
The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Ethiopian Banana will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Ethiopian Banana prefers moist soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Ethiopian Banana should not be planted in shady areas.

Open mountain forests[166].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Grows within a woodland garden
• Grows on a sunny edge

Cultivation Details

Requires a very sheltered sunny position in a fertile moisture-retentive soil[200]. This species is not very hardy in Britain but it succeeds outdoors on the Scilly Islands[134] and is sometimes used in sub-tropical bedding[1]. Plants can survive light frosts but they require ample shelter from the wind[166]. It should be possible to grow plants in tubs, keeping them outdoors in the summer and bringing them into a greenhouse or conservatory in the winter[K]. The leaves can be up to 6 metres long[188].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 2/5
The chopped and grated pulp of the corms and leaf sheaths is fermented and used as a flour in making kocho bread[134, 177, 183]. 100% kocho flour or a mixture of kocho and other cereal flours may be used[183]. It is said to taste like a good quality bread[2]. The endosperm of the seed is consumed as a food[183]. The base of the flower stalk is edible cooked[2, 177].

• Root - includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
• Seed - includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
• Stem - this often intergrades into leaves.

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 0/5
None known

Propagation

Sow the large seed in individual pots in a heated greenhouse at any time of the year. Pre-soak the seed for 24 hours in warm water beforehand[200]. Germination should take place within 3 months. Grow on the plants for at least a couple of winters in the greenhouse before attempting to grow them outdoors. Division of suckers in spring. Try to get as much of the sucker's roots out as possible without disturbing the main plant too much. Pot the suckers up and grow them on in light shade in the greenhouse until they are established.

Known Hazards

None known

Other Uses

A fibre is obtained from the plant[134].

• Fibre - Used for making cloth, rope, paper etc.

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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