Banana Shrub
Michelia figo
SKU
06153
Fragrant, creamy-yellow blooms shaded with purple have a banana-like scent. Compact densely branched shrub displays narrow, glossy leaves. Use near the front of borders, so fragrance can be enjoyed.
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Full sun, Partial sun
Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat.
CHECK RETAILERS FOR AVAILABILITY:
- 101 Market
8980 Quantrelle Ave. N.e. Otsego MN 55330
- 14th Street Garden Center
793 Jersey Ave. Jersey City NJ 07303
- 3rd Avenue Floral & Greenhouse
1110 3rd Ave. West Dickinson ND 58601
- 4 Ever Green Ldsp. & Dgn
21457 214th Circle Ave Milford IA 51351
| Botanical Pronunciation | my-KEE-lee-a FEE-go |
|---|---|
| Lore | The fragrance of its flowers resembling the scent of bananas led to its common name, banana shrub. Be aware that NO part of the plant is edible. |
| Average Size at Maturity | Slow growing to 6 to 10 ft. tall and wide. |
| Bloom Time | All season, heaviest in spring |
| Design Ideas | Its scent rivals the highly fragrant Plumeria used in Hawaiian leis. What this shrub lacks in bright color it fully compensates for in heady fragrance. This is a big and bushy foundation plant that will grow along fence lines. Create a hedge of them for privacy and their perfume will fill the whole area. Plant near windows and doors, where its fragrance will waft indoors. A choice selection for around swimming pools and fountains. Blend other big and beautiful semitropical plants such as bronze flax, bird of paradise, and Japanese aralia, and accent with colorful spreading lantana and bougainvillea. |
| Deciduous/ Evergreen | Evergreen |
| Flower Attribute | Fragrant, Showy Flowers |
| Flower Color | Yellow |
| Foliage Color | Green |
| Garden Style | Mediterranean, Tropical |
| Growth Habit | Round |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Landscape Use | Container, Hedge, Specimen |
| Light Needs | Full sun, Partial sun |
| Soil Needs | Tree & Shrub Food |
| Special Feature | Tolerates Acidic Soil, Year-round Interest, Compact Form |
| Water Needs | Moderate |
| Watering Needs | Needs regular watering - weekly, or more often in extreme heat. |
| Companion Plants | New Zealand Flax (Phormium); Giant Bird Of Paradise (Strelitzia nicolai); Japanese Aralia (Fatsia japonica); Lantana (Lantana hybrids); Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea) |
Follow a regular watering schedule during the first growing season to establish a deep, extensive root system. Feed with a general purpose fertilizer before new growth begins in spring. For a formal appearance, shear annually after flowering.
This Plant's Growing Zones: 8-11
Your USDA Cold Hardiness Zone:
Your climate may be too cold for this plant