Steve in France

I bought a very small Ensete glaucum at the end of June I think it was . It's not done much this season , they don't seem to grow well in Northern Europe , I think it's a lack of heat or perhaps too much change in day and night temps. How well do they grow for you guys and how do they perform in different zones ?
Thanks
Later
Steve

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barna

I have grown several Ensete glaucum from seed, and they grew slowly during the first year but this summer they start growing fast.
I am in zone 9a and now we have night temperatures around 10ºC but still some new leaves are emerging
Mine are not in full sun but half-shade with afternoon sun and seems to like its position

mrbungalow

Ensete Glaucum is useless for northern climates, the hyped cold hardiness and its name as "The snow banana" is in my opinion a big joke.

I have heard they need constant warmth and humidity to perform well. It is also said to be preferred over ensete ventricosum in climates such as Florida.

Still, it's a very nice banana with silver stems and leaf undersides. But I guess even "Ice cream" would be better off in northern Europe than e.glaucum.

Erlend

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jeffreyp

Ensete Ventricosum does horrible down here in south florida. They fall apart in the hot sun and humidity.

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Tropicallvr

I have tried them on the coast here in Northern California, and they grow very slow.
This year I tried some again in the hot dry interior, and it was still slow. I think part of the problem inland in the hot dry mountains was the cool nights, and lack of humidty.
E.klauy pa seems pretty quick here.
I keep dreaming of hybridizing E.glaucum with E. ventricosum, to create a huge banana for the low land tropics(S.Florida), or maybe a more drought tolerant form of E.ventricosum for the west(E.glaucum is said to be more drought tolerant like the African species)

Steve in France

Thanks for the replies , so it's a bit of a problem plant , great idea to try and cross it if possible. Seems it does not like any of the conditions presented to it , strange.
Later
Steve

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bigdog

Ensete glaucum does fine here in the Southeast U.S. I have over 20 seedlings going in a greenhouse right now, and they are growing like mad! They aren't as cold-hardy as originally advertised though.