Practical
Plants

Michelia figo

Banana Shrub

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Michelia genus in the family Magnoliaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Height
5 m
Spread
4 m
Flower type
hermaphrodite

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The leaves are used for scenting tea[2].

Product or use
Condiment

Environment

Range
E. Asia - southern China.
Habitat
Broad-leaved evergreen forests, shady slopes and along river banks[7].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 9+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - probably best sown in a greenhouse as soon as it is ripe in the autumn, it can also be sown in the spring[4]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Consider giving them some protection from the cold for at least their first winter outdoors. Cuttings of greenwood, summer in a frame[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a humus-rich well-drained neutral to alkaline soil in direct light or partial shade[4]. Requires a neutral to acid soil according to other reports[3][5]. Although not very frost-hardy, plants have survived in sheltered positions outdoors in southern England[4], tolerating temperatures down to about -5°c[6]. They require the protection of a cold greenhouse at Kew gardens[1]. The flowers have a banana scent[3]. This is one of the most fragrant of all shrubs with a scent strongly resembling the sweet 'pear drops'[1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩

  3. Brickell. C. The RHS Gardener's Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers Dorling Kindersley Publishers Ltd. 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-86318-386-7

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

  5. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩

  6. Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-330-37376-5

    ↩

  7. Flora of China 1994-00-00 http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/

    ↩

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