Tropical Gardens in Containers

Show-stopping plants with "wow" factor, tender Abyssinian bananas are ideal for terraces and patios, where they give welcome shade and form a structural backdrop to other exotics. They must be kept in a warm area during winter, so bear this in mind before you buy.

When to Start: Late spring
At Its Best: Early summer to early fall
Time to Complete: 1 hour

Materials Needed:

• large pot
• broken clay pot pieces
• multipurpose potting mix
• Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum) 'Maurelii'

• Asparagus densiflorus 'Myersii'
• Clerodendrum thomsoniae
• Medinilla magnifica

Plant Your Bananas

Line the base of a pot with broken clay pot pieces, and plant the banana plant in multipurpose potting mix. Widely available, banana plants are large perennials that grow very quickly in summer. They like a sunny spot, sheltered from strong winds that could tear their leaves.

Feeding and Care

To encourage the strongest, most luscious growth, water the plants regularly and feed every week using a liquid fertilizer. You can add to the display by underplanting your bananas with ferns, trailing bedding plants or other exotics with attractive foliage.

Overwintering Bananas

To make sure your banana plant survives the winter, bring the pot indoors before the first frosts. A plant mover will make the task easier. Remove older leaves and keep the plant in a room or heated greenhouse at a minimum temperature of 45 degrees F. Don't water in the colder months but start again in spring.

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