Is Abyssinian banana hardy?

Hardy down to -1 °C (USDA zone 10, RHS H3). Outdoors in this country it only survives with winter protection, or in a pot overwintered frost-free.

How much water does Abyssinian banana need?

Water need: medium. Drought tolerance: low.

How much does Abyssinian banana cost?

It sells for roughly HUF 10,000 to HUF 12,000 in local shops, depending on size.

What should I plant instead of Abyssinian banana?

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. For a similar purpose we recommend: Fountain bamboo, Robust clumping bamboo, Japanese holly fern, Japanese tassel fern.

Abyssinian banana

Ensete ventricosum

Abyssinian banana (Ensete ventricosum) is a perennial. Light: full sun, part shade. Hardy down to -1 °C. Drought tolerance: low. Sold in local shops from about HUF 10,000. We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens.

Illustration of Abyssinian banana — An illustration of the typical shape of the mature plant, not a photo.

What it's good for, and what it isn't

In Central Europe this is a container or seasonal plant set out for summer: it takes no frost at all and does not overwinter outdoors. Its huge paddle-shaped leaves, flushed burgundy in the popular red form, give a terrace or the middle of a bed a tropical look within a single summer, but the fruit is not edible. Bring it in before the first frost: either keep it as a houseplant in a bright, cool room with little water, or cut the leaves back and store the plant with its root ball, almost dry, in a dark frost-free cellar, then put it out again only after the last frost. It wants a spot sheltered from wind, rich soil and constantly moist ground.

We do not recommend this plant

We do not recommend it for most Central European gardens. Further down we show what to plant instead.

Watch out for

It is killed by frost outdoors in Central Europe, has to be brought in every autumn, and moving a large, heavy plant is real work. The red-leaved form resents transplanting, so it is better kept in a tub throughout than dug up in autumn. Wind tears the leaves to ribbons, and an overwatered plant rots easily in winter storage. Indoors and under glass it can be infested by spider mites, aphids, mealybugs and scale. It does not sucker, is raised from seed or tissue culture, and the plant dies after flowering.

Key facts

Light: Full sun, Part shade
Water need: Medium
Care: High
Size after 10 years: 3 m × 2 m
Hardiness: down to -1 °C
Foliage: Evergreen

Group	Perennial
Light	Full sun, Part shade
Size after 10 years	3 m × 2 m
Ultimate size	2.4–6 m × 1.8–3 m
Hardiness	down to -1 °C (USDA 10, RHS H3)
Soil	Average garden soil, Sandy
Foliage	Evergreen
Flowering	no data
Water need	Medium
Drought tolerance	Low
Maintenance	High
Root aggressiveness	Low
Suckering	no data
Spreading	Low
Distance from buildings	no data
Distance from paving	no data
Litter	not typical
Planting distance	200 cm
For dogs	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For cats	Non-toxic (uncertain)
For children	no data
Typical price	from about HUF 10,000

Toxicity data is for information only. If your pet or child has eaten a plant, contact a vet or a doctor.

What to plant instead

Recommended plants that do the same job, with similar characteristics.

Fountain bamboo

Fargesia nitida 3 m × 1.5 m after 10 years

A clump-forming bamboo: unlike running bamboos it does not send out far-reaching rhizomes, the clump only thickens slowly, so you can plant it without…

Ornamental grass

Part shade

Shade

from about HUF 8,000

Robust clumping bamboo

Fargesia robusta 3.5 m × 1.5 m after 10 years

A clump-forming bamboo that does not run: the clump only thickens slowly and stays where you plant it, so it needs no rhizome barrier. It is one of…

Ornamental grass

Part shade

Full sun

from about HUF 7,000

Japanese holly fern

Cyrtomium fortunei 50 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

Leathery, matt green, sickle-shaped leaflets make the fronds look like sprays of holly, and in mild winters they stay green all year. It is the…

Perennial

Part shade

Shade

from about HUF 1,400

Japanese tassel fern

Polystichum polyblepharum 50 cm × 60 cm after 10 years

Glossy, dark green, finely divided fronds form a neat vase-shaped clump that stays green through winter. In spring the tips of the unfurling fronds…

Perennial

Part shade

Shade

from about HUF 1,500

Sizes and prices available

The same plant is sold as a small pot and as a specimen several metres tall, and the price follows. Prices are rounded and for guidance only.

Size	Typical price
40+ cm	approx. HUF 12,000
size not stated	approx. HUF 10,000

Frequently asked questions

Data updated: October 8, 2026 · How our data is made