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Post by andy on Jan 14, 2007 15:56:07 GMT
Musa Ensete 'Maurelii' This is truly a magnificent beast and will form the centrepiece of my tropical garden this year. It's currently in a 10L pot but will possibly go into a plastic dustbin soon. Has anyone ever grown this species.....how big did it get ?......i'm looking for something around 8' tall in the end. Can it be cut back like other musa sp ? Here's a pic TIA  |
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Post by 4pygmies on Jan 14, 2007 16:00:07 GMT
That is a VERY gorgeous plant! CPB loves banana plants - she might know. It really is lovely - I don't grow tropical as I try to be native instead but that might persuade me - post a piccie of its eventual size this summer won't you?
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Post by andy on Jan 14, 2007 16:14:18 GMT
Oh don't worry about that 4P. I plan to have a few taller plants such as the bananas and maybe a golden catalpa and then infill with cannas, citrus, pomegranites, bamboo etc creating a lush tropical patio.
Can't wait
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 14, 2007 17:10:54 GMT
OOOH what a BEAUTY! I am green with envy Andy! I had one but it didn't survive last winter despite being undercover in my GH (cold) and wrapped in straw and sacking...  I bought it at GW Live in 2005 from the Kobakoba stand...when I spoke to the chap on their stand this year he said that they'd had similar problems with their stock of maurelii ( muriel as I call it!) Before it died it was about 6'...I had it in the garden until Sepember...when I get another one I shall have it in the conservatory over winter...and will have no qualms about removing some of the leaves if it means I keep it alive! (as long as the growing point's OK I'd've thought that it would be OK) I have a 4 year old musa basjoo (or is it moosa basju?) that gets dragged into the GH every winter with it's leaves hacked back...I only wrap that if we're having severe frosts. Also have a dwarf banana (dunno what species) rescued from a GC that didn't know what it was either (but it looked wretched...) and another ensete ventriculosum 'Hiniba' which doesn't grow as big (or as red) as maurelii....(these 2 are in the conservatory) I do love exotics! How long have you had this one? (I've got some seed (5) for ensete ventriculosum as well...want a couple?) CPBx |
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Post by andy on Jan 14, 2007 17:54:10 GMT
Thanx for that CPB. I only got the plant around last August and it's trebbled in size. It has been kept on the dry side in a warmish (15c) conservatory and it's been slowly growing all winter.
If it doesn't get that tall this year, i'll prop it up on an upturned dustbin. Can't wait !!!
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Post by isabella on Jan 14, 2007 20:12:59 GMT
Andy, I bought one last Spring when it was about 3' tall - by the end of the Summer it was at least 8' tall!!!!  I am not sure it will survive but at the moment it is in the greenhouse wrapped in fleece!  It certainly is a beautiful plant   This is my plant in early Summer! |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Jan 14, 2007 20:29:55 GMT
PHWOOOAAAR!!!
;D
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Post by Dutchy on Jan 18, 2007 15:59:39 GMT
Ditto that!
Pictures like that make you yearn for summer
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Post by mickthecactus on Jan 18, 2007 16:19:21 GMT
If you like exotics, consider the larger growing Aloes. They have lovely flowers and only need frost free protection in winter. Some can even stay outside in winter as long as they are bubble wrapped and sheltered. I have treated Aloe ferox like this for some years without problem.
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I bought it at GW Live in 2005 from the Kobakoba stand...when I spoke to the chap on their stand this year he said that they'd had similar problems with their stock of maurelii (muriel as I call it!) 
