The Red Abyssinian Banana is a cultivar of the False Banana or Abyssinian Banana, Ensete ventricosum. The red form is called Ensete ventricosum maurelii and is prized for its red-tinged leaves.
In their native environment in tropical Asia and Africa, Abyssinian banana plants can grow to 30 or more feet in height, but they will stay considerably smaller in containers or in cultivation. Like many tropical plants, these can be successfully wintered inside, although they will likely stop growing or slow down. In the summer, they appreciate being moved outside, where they can get adequate sun, which is important for their full leaf coloration. Like bananas, these plants are rapid growers and love plenty of moisture, fertilizer, heat, and sunlight—the more you can provide for these conditions, the better your plants will look.
