Ensete sp. (Kluay Pa/Thailand)

Ensete sp. (Kluay Pa/Thailand)
Kluay Pa Banana

A very exciting and apparently undescribed Ensete species from the Chiangmai area in the northwest of Thailand, where it grows on steep limestone cliffs with seasonally dry forest vegetation. It is a very compact plant, with short, broad, glaucous leafbases that form a thick, roundish trunk. The very short leafstalks hold compact, leathery leaves that are glaucous below and pale green above. The leaf midribs are reddish below and yellowish above. The striking inflorescence has large maroon bracts and eventually carries a bunch of squat fruits with small, shinly, black, Musella-like seeds. The Kluay Pa Banana wil adapt well to both warm temperate and tropical climates. It needs a spot in full sun, abundant water and good drainage.

germination comments by our visitors
For general germination instructions click here.

Also see plant cultivation comments below.

Seeds from this species ...

...difficult to germinate and need up to 6 months to sprout.
These rather small seeds for an Ensete seem more diffucult to germinate than other Ensetes. I've only had 1 out of 100 germinate so far using the moist peat moss in baggy method. I won't give up until the seeds are at least a couple years old.
Submitted on 22/01/2005 by one of our visitors

...very easy to germinate and need up to 1 month to sprout.
Super easy. I soaked for two days in water, planted in a well draining mix with a heat mat and humidity cover. First seed came up in 19 days. Do not try to break of scarify the seed coat, it is not needed.
Submitted on 21/11/2004 by one of our visitors


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plant cultivation comments by our visitors
Also see germination commnets above.

Plants from this species ...

... have not yet been commented on. Be the first to write a comment:


	• • • Write a plant cultivation comment and enter to win Euro (€) 50 worth of seeds • • • Please note: These comments are on how to cultivate the PLANTS once the seeds have germinated.

If you wish to read more on palm cultivation, we highly recommend Ornamental Palm Horticulture by Timothy K. Broschat and Alan W. Meerow, available in our bookshop.

Ratings and comments reflect individual experiences and the views of our visitors. They do not necessarily describe the most appropriate methods, nor are they necessarily valid for all seeds or plants of this species. Germination and plant cultivation success depends on many different factors; nevertheless, these experiences will hopefully aid you in your effort to get the best germination results from our seeds and the best growth results from your plants.

We recommend:

Conifers for Gardens: An Illustrated Encyclopedia
by Richard L. Bitner

Hardcover - 448 pages
More than 1500 photographs

Our Rating:

Suitable for: all

Conifers for Gardens is intended to take away the element of uncertainty when you're choosing a plant that may alter your yard for years to come. Profusely illustrated with more than 1,500 crisp photographs and brimming with concise descriptions of both species and their numerous cultivars, this meticulously researched reference provides information - including size, appearance, hardiness, preferred growing conditions and susceptibility to pests and diseases - for almost every hardy conifer you're likely to encounter in the trade, whether it's a tried-and-true favorite or a connoisseur's treasure.

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