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Is there anything dependable than the sweet smell of peak on a ardent summertime ’s day ? The banana bush look nothing like the regular banana tree . But the common name “ banana shrub ” comes from the fact that its bloom smell like ripe banana tree . What a Treat ! take on to learn more about this beautiful flowering bush .
What Is A Banana Shrub?
The banana bush , also commonly known as the port wine-colored magnolia or banana magnolia , is an ornamental evergreen plant shrub or small Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree of the Magnoliaceae family . Scientifically , this plant is separate asMagnolia figobut was previously known asMichelia figo , a name which some nursery and resources may still use . These plant are think to be of garden pedigree and have a farseeing history of planting in China . ( 1 )
These plant have an upright ellipse ontogeny shape and are usually multi - stem but can be train as a little , individual - stemmed tree with careful pruning . Often said to be a shrub of around 6 foot ( 1.8 m ) in height , these plant life can reach up to about 20 ft ( 6 chiliad ) in height with a spread of up to 13 ft ( 4 m ) if given enough time and honest growing conditions .
Banana shrubs have lovely dark fleeceable leaf which are covered in fine hairs on their gloomy aerofoil . The alternately arranged leaves have entire ( smooth ) margins and are 2 - 4 column inch ( 5 - 10 centimetre ) long and 1 - 2inches ( 2.5 - 5 centimeter ) astray .
Michelia figo ‘Purple Queen’ photo by KENPEI – KENPEI’s photo, CC BY-SA 3.0
Young sprig and buds are also densely cut through in fine woolly hair , give rise a brownish or yellowish coloration . fledged barque take on a gray - brown colouring .
Banana Shrub Flowers
The flowers of this flora are definitely its most attractive feature . Measuring ½ to 1 column inch ( 1.3 - 2.5 centimetre ) across , these cream - yellow bloom have six maroon butt on tepal .
The ‘ Port Wine ’ cultivar has maroon to rose - colored bloom , while ‘ Purple Queen ’ has imperial flowers .
The aroma of the peak is best compared with banana tree or fruit confect and can be smack from quite a distance away like miniature southerly magnolia . flush give way to relatively invisible , minuscule red fruit that are around half an inch ( 13 mm ) across or less .
In April through July , you may gestate the appearance of these gaudy andfragrant blooms . The flowers smell like bananas are delicate , however , drop their tepal easily .
How To Grow A Banana Shrub
It is good to develop your banana tree shrubs from semi - ripe cuttings as the semen tend to have a low germination potential .
Banana bush can be grown in a diversity of filth types , include quite heavy , clay substrates . A well - enfeeble , slightly acidic to inert pH soil with a well amount of constitutive material mixed in is emphatically favor , however .
Keep the land around this works ’s roots moist , especially when young or late establish , in which case the plant should be watered day by day . Once established , these plants want less frequent tearing but are not highly drouth kind and should be watered when necessary , especially in particularly hot and ironic periods .
These shrub in the Magnolia family do well when spring up in USDA zones 8 - 10 , and UK geographical zone 9 . Banana shrub have been successfully grown in USDA zone 7 although they require more care and will take some cold damage during the winter month . As a rule , the species does not enjoy frost and should be protect from cold winter winds or acquire in shelter locations .
Grow this plant in full Lord’s Day to partial shade areas . Bear in creative thinker , however , that plants grown in full sun will take on a denser and more compact maturation form than those maturate in shade , which tend to grow taller and have yellowish immature leaves . ( 2 )
These plants generally grow at a slow to restrained charge per unit , so have patience , it will be worth the wait . If you need flora hoi polloi in a hurry for a hedge or filmdom , consider other options .
Care and Maintenance
This plant may be severely trimmed and is slightly saltiness kind . These plants tolerate pruning well and this is best done in the springtime .
Fortunately , the flowers of the banana bush do not develop on new growth and therefore the plant life can be cut back without diminish its efflorescence potential .
Since these plants love a clean rich grow medium , fertilizing when necessary will in spades ameliorate their health and emergence pace . Take note , however , that it broadly speaking is n’t wise to feed flora too late in the grow season , and therefore early spring is the idealistic time of year to do it .
Banana shrubs are relatively pest and disease tolerant . Some growers have reported infestation of a pest known as faux rose bay scurf ( Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli).Affected plant are identify by yellowing patch on the upper folio surface , which may result in the death of leaves . The employment of horticultural oil is commend for the discourse of this shape . ( 3 )
Uses
These plants make great screen , hedges , and specimen plant that are also suitable for large containers . The banana bush plant can quite well be convert to become banana shrub - trees by careful pruning to establish a individual shank .
Perhaps this plant life ’s finest lineament is its fragrant prime , which make it an ideal pick for scent garden . Take care not to over - establish this species . Sometimes youcanhave too much of a serious affair and an overpowering and overwhelming banana tree smell might not be the best thing to have outside your sleeping room windowpane for a few hebdomad of the year !
FAQs
How vainglorious do banana shrubs originate ?
These industrial plant grow at a slow to moderate rate , reaching heights of around 15 ft ( 4.6 m ) or more in some cases .
Is the banana shrub fast - produce ?
No , unfortunately , this plant has a rather slow growth rate .
Is the banana tree shrub cervid resistant ?
Yes , cervid do not feed on this plant .
How does the banana flower tone ?
Banana bush take their name from the banana tree confect smell of their flowers .
termination
The banana bush has it all . Provided you hold out in a affectionate enough clime , and are n’t in too much of a hurry to see this boring agriculturist gain mass , this is one flora anyone should consider for their next garden institution .
If you love bush , check this listfor more plant to produce !
reference
Reference list
( 2 ) Gilman , E. F. Michelia Figo : Fact weather sheet . University of Florida
http://hort.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/shrub_fact_sheets/micfiga.pdf
( 3 ) Fasulo , T. R. & Hamon , A. B. False Oleander Scale , Pseudaulacaspis cockerelli ( Cooley )
( Insecta : Hemiptera : Coccoidea : Diaspididae )
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/IN/IN30600.pdf
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