Ensete ventricosum starting to grow sideways

Mountain View, CA

I've had great luck growing Ensete ventricosum in our SF Bay Area backyard. After 2-3 years they're giant. And of course, once they get this size, they become giant sails and (with their almost non-existant root system) blow over at some point, although this can be mitigated with some guy wires.

In any case, I have one that has appears to now be bending and growing sideways (unless I'm wrong and it's actually about to produce end-of-life flowers). If it continues to grow, the center of mass will just pull the whole plant over. So I'm trying to how to deal with it. I can cut the plant where it's starting to bend (about 8 feet off the ground), or just wait for the right time and cut the whole thing to the ground and either remove it and plant another (as I did before in this very spot), or see if it will generate pups after cutting down (as it appears is possible even with this species if I'm to believe what I've read on various forums).

Any advice?

Thumbnail by bari_sax Thumbnail by bari_sax
Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom

As it's a member of the Banana family, I think Ethiopian, they don't fruit and are used in lots of cooler regions as either bedding out center pieces for show in summer or grown in greenhouses BUT you would require a very large greenhouse.

I'm not an expert on these Plants BUT, I would be inclined to cut off the side shoots that are leaning away from the main stems, I'm sure in your climate and conditions you can grow these plants out doors all year round and they will reward you with beautiful large bright leaves and they are wonderful shade plants if grown in the right area of the garden.

Be careful that the plant can snap and IF that does happen, then all the sap that is held within these trunks will pour out loads of moisture and maybe even cause the die back of the whole plant.

Maybe someone in your area can come in and help you out better than me and will be able to give better care info.
Good luck and kindest Regards. WeeNel.

Contra Costa County, CA(Zone 9b)

I am in an area a bit colder than Mountain View.

My ornamental banana (different species) has never fruited. I sure love the tropical leaves all summer and into the fall. By winter though they are badly tattered, and by the end of winter it is better to cut the whole plant down.

It is under a roof in a large patio planter. It keeps hitting the roof, then freezing, so I cut it down. It regrows just in time to get hit by the cold, and to hit the roof. So I cut it. And it regrows....

I think in a windy location I would add some guy wires or stakes and use a soft material to keep tying them up (until they freeze... )

One year the wind did hit it just wrong, so I did tie it to the roof support. It still got chilled, so I cut it. Again.

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