Ensete glaucum
 

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

Re: Ensete glaucum
 

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 :goteam:

Re: Ensete glaucum
 

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

Re: Ensete glaucum
 

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

Re: Ensete glaucum
 

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)

Re: Ensete glaucum
 

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

Re: Ensete glaucum
 

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.