Banana Shrub
Michelia figo Syn. Magnolia figo
Plant Details
USDA Plant Hardiness Zones: 7a–11 Find Your Zone
Plant Type: Evergreen Flowering Shrub or Small Tree
Height at Maturity: 10-15′
Width at Maturity: 10-15′
Spacing: 8-10′ for solid hedges; 20′ for space between plants
Growth Habit / Form: Broad, Bushy, Upright, Vase/Fountain Shape
Growth Rate: Fast
Flower Color: Butter Yellow
Flower Size: 1″
Flowering Period: Late Spring, sporadically in Summer in warmer climates
Flower Type: Single
Fragrant Flowers: Yes, smells just like a banana popsicle!
Foliage Color: Dark Green
Fragrant Foliage: No
Berries: No
Berry Color: NA
Sun Needs: Sun or Part Shade. Please Note: The Banana Shrub will grow well in either sun or shade, assuming a looser more open form when grown in a mostly shade environment. Leaves of Banana Shrub growing in direct, full sun will be a lighter shade of green. Some filtered sun or dappled shade during the mid afternoon hours in summer produces deeper green leaves, which we think is more attractive.
Water Needs: Average, low when established
Soil Type: Clay (Amended), Loam, Sandy, Silty
Soil Moisture / Drainage: Well Drained Moist
Soil pH: 6.0 – 6.5 (Moderately Acid to Slightly Acid)
Maintenance / Care: Low
Attracts: Visual Attention
Resistances: Deer, Disease, Drought, Heat
Description
Featuring flowers that smell just like a banana popsicle, the Banana Shrub, also known as the Port Wine Magnolia, is an an attractive evergreen large shrub or small tree that’s been around the United States since the late 1700’s. The 1-inch magnolia-like flowers are produced in abundance in late spring and sometimes sporadically during summer in warmer climates. The oblong, glossy, evergreen, green leaves are attractive year round. Originally from China, this magnificent plant is one of the classic evergreens of the Old South.
Landscape & Garden Uses
The Banana Shrub can be grown as a large shrub or lower branches can be removed to form a small tree that matures to about 15 feet tall and almost as wide. It is ideal for use as a specimen, in groupings, or as an evergreen hedge in sunny to partially shaded landscape borders. That said, the Banana Shrub will grow well in either sun or shade, assuming a looser more open form when grown in a mostly shade environment. Leaves of Banana Shrub growing in direct, full sun will be a lighter shade of green. Some filtered sun or dappled shade during the mid afternoon hours in summer produces deeper green leaves, which we think is more attractive. It is also useful in home foundation plantings to frame the corners or against an large, open wall. A fine addition to the fragrance or cottage garden. Make sure to plant Banana Shrub where you can enjoy the fragrance of the flowers from up close!
Suggested Spacing: 8 to 10 apart for a solid hedge; 20 feet or more apart for space between plants
Note: For our customers who live and garden north of USDA Cold Hardiness Zone 7a, where the Banana Shrub is not reliably winter hardy, you’ll be happy to know it can be grown in containers that can be brought indoors during winter and place back outside when temperatures warm up in spring.
Growing Preferences
The Banana Shrub prefers a moist but well-drained acidic soil with plenty of organic matter. Leaves of Banana Shrub growing in direct, full sun will be a lighter shade of green. Some filtered sun or dappled shade during the mid afternoon hours in summer produces deeper green leaves, which we think is more attractive. Though listed as hardy in USDA Zones 7-10 the plant may suffer some damage when severe winters occur in Zone 7. It is not particularly fast growing and can be pruned after blooming, but is most impressive when allowed to grow to natural size and shape.
Plant Long & Prosper!
Meet The Wilson Brothers & Staff
Questions? Contact Us
This item ended up being out of stock after I purchased it. Customer service contacted me to advise ASAP and applied an additional 15% to the purchase price to be used as store credit for other plants, which turned into a blackberry patch in our yard. Can’t review the banana shrub but we’re excited about the blackberry patch and customer service was A+.————————————————-Sorry about the Banana Shrub being out of stock, but enjoy your fruit. But we are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the kind words and great review! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
Plants arrived packaged in great condition. There was even new growth on them. We have them planted for a few weeks now and they are doing great. I would definitely order from this company again.—————————————————-We are so glad you are pleased and we hope you enjoy them for years to come! Thanks for the great review and the kind words! 🙂 Beth Steele | WBG
I was nervous about ordering online, because you really can’t see what you’re buying. However, i was pleasantly surprised. I love my banana shrubs, they came in safely packaged, nice size, healthy. Two of them had flowers on them. Smell wonderful. All are doing well and growing into their new home.——————————-Thanks so much for your review. Let us know if there’s ever anything we can help you with. – Beth | WBG 🙂
Purchase the 1 gallon 6 pack and it arrived very quickly and in excellent condition. Will purchase from here in the future. Highly recommend.——————————-Thanks for the great review! We are so glad you are pleased! Beth | WBG 🙂
























Reviews
There are no reviews yet.