Because I like to grow from seed for the challenge and they are not sold at HD in MO. We have very few tropicals for sale here and the ones we have are very expensive. They are about 2' tall and go for $50 - $75 or better. I have never seen an Ensete here for sale.
Ensete ventricosum (Red Banana) showing signs of dis-ease
FOF, what is available at the various HD's differs a lot throughout the U.S. and depends to an extent on what is locally available or what will sell in that market. There probably isn't much markup for shipping plants from nurseries to your area as well and that will send tropicals through the roof for much of the country.
I just bought an Ensete at Wal-Mart yesterday for $12.97. It's about 3 or 4 feet tall. I can't wait until mine can look as good as yours. I had seen your thread here yesterday, and when I stopped in at Wal-Mart for potting soil, ta-dah!!!
It's almost like "just add water" and away it goes!
You will be amazed by the growth, you being in Florida and all... how cold does it get in Navarre anyway?
It can get below freezing. The temps jump all over. One day is gorgeous, 70's day & nights in the 50's, then bam...days 50's & nights below freezing, then back up again. Usually the other bananas I have will die down to nothing, then pop back up in the Spring. So, I hope the Ensete will do likewise. Does yours die down in the winter?
It didn't really die down, it went a little dormant, then when spring hit, it really took off.
I mean REALLY took off! This is from May to now, August '08.
Wow! Yours grew so fast. I really like the whole tropical theme you have surrounding it as well. Just gorgeous.
I have pictures of my before now, so I'll see what next year brings.