Enset (false banana) Ensete ventricosum
Enset (false banana) (Ensete ventricosum) is an evergreen perennial vegetable in the Musaceae family, native to East and Central African highlands; domesticated in Ethiopia. It grows 4–10 m (13–33 ft) tall and 3–5 m (10–16 ft) wide, wants full sun and moderate water, and is hardy to about 0 °C (32 °F). Space plants about 3 m (10 ft) apart.
Plan Enset (false banana) in your garden →
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Enset (false banana) at a glance
| Type | Perennial vegetable, evergreen |
|---|---|
| Family | Musaceae |
| Mature height | 4–10 m (13–33 ft) |
| Mature spread | 3–5 m (10–16 ft) |
| Spacing | 3 m (10 ft) centre to centre |
| Sun | Full sun, at least 5 h of direct sun a day |
| Water | Moderate; drought tolerance moderate, waterlogging tolerance none |
| Soil pH | 5.5–7.5 |
| Cold hardiness | About 0 °C (32 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 10) |
| Heat stress | Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F) |
| Flowering | about 261–521 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks |
| Wind tolerance | Low |
| Pollinator value | Low |
| Edible | Yes: corm and pseudostem pulp (fermented into kocho) |
| Native to | East and Central African highlands; domesticated in Ethiopia |
| Common in gardens of | 🇪🇹 Ethiopia, 🇰🇪 Kenya, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
Is Enset (false banana) toxic?
- People: not known to be toxic
- Cats: not known to be toxic
- Dogs: not known to be toxic
No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.
Companion planting: what to grow with Enset (false banana)
No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and moderate water.
Questions about Enset (false banana)
- How far apart should I plant Enset (false banana)?
- About 3 m (10 ft) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 3–5 m (10–16 ft).
- Does Enset (false banana) need full sun?
- Full sun: at least 5 hours of direct sun a day.
- How much water does Enset (false banana) need?
- Moderate water. Drought tolerance is moderate and waterlogging tolerance none.
- How cold-hardy is Enset (false banana)?
- It tolerates about 0 °C (32 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 10.
- When does Enset (false banana) flower?
- About 261–521 weeks after planting, for 9–17 weeks.
- Is Enset (false banana) poisonous to cats and dogs?
- For cats it is not known to be toxic; for dogs not known to be toxic; for people not known to be toxic. No toxicity reported in ASPCA or standard poison references.
- What grows well with Enset (false banana)?
- There is no well-documented companion pairing for Enset (false banana). Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (moderate).
Sources and evidence
Evidence grade B (B: extension service or peer-reviewed).
- PROTA4U: Plant Resources of Tropical Africa, PROTA Foundation, Wageningen
- Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Notes and assumptions
- Staple for some 20 million Ethiopians; plants are harvested before they flower (they die after flowering). Red-leaved forms are bedding for subtropical-style gardens.
Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.
Related plants
- Banana Musa x paradisiaca
- Tomato Solanum lycopersicum
- Cherry tomato Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme
- Potato Solanum tuberosum
- Bell pepper Capsicum annuum
- Lettuce Lactuca sativa
- Carrot Daucus carota subsp. sativus
- Cucumber Cucumis sativus