Banana Shrub – 7 Gallon Pot (4-5′)

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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.

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.

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.

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