Ensete ventricosum 'Maurellii', the Purple Abysinnian Banana is a well-known and magnificent cultivar of the Ethiopian Banana, Ensete ventricosum. The purple variegation on the foliage and the purple colouration on the abaxial surfaces are show-stoppingly beautiful. It has a fast growth habit and year by year becomes more and more wonderful with an ever-increasing display of foliar magnificence and an ever-increasing size and girth of trunk.

Therein lies the rub. This is a tender plant. It will not stand frost. Yes, it's true some growers in extremely favourable and sheltered spots on the southern and southwest coasts may be able to nurse it through a few winters under protection... but more than likely, that is not you. Your best choice is to grow it in larger and larger pots (we are talking large here) for a few years. If you have a large enough conservatory you could keep it inside. Eventually, all procrastination must be put aside and - in the spring - the time will come to plant it outside among your other exotics. It will be fine in the garden for the summer and you can sit back and admire its ever-growing exuberant frenzy of foliage. As the weather cools however, prepare for a little hard work...

You will need to dig it up in early October before the first frosts arrive. Obviously, the larger and heavier the plant has become, the more of a serious task the whole enterprise will be. Once dug up, chop off all the leaves and clean off all the dirt from the roots. You can brush the dirt off or you can turn it upside down and hose the dirt off, allowing it to drain dry. Once dry, keep it dry by placing in a warm dry space over winter. Light is not necesasry as the plant will be dormant. A shed or garage will be fine as long as it is warm. A loft space is ideal. Plant it up again in spring, cutting off any rotted material if necessary.

And enjoy... another year for it to go bananas...

A stunning plant and probably an essential addition to your exotic garden.