Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia)
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) showing cream flower petals surrounded by deep green waxy oval leaves
Botanical names: Magnolia figo, Michelia figo, Magnolia fuscata
Common names: Banana Magnolia, Banana Shrub, Port Wine Magnolia
Family: Magnoliaceae
Origin: China
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
USDA Zone: 7-10
Plant form: Large bush or small tree
Mature height: 10-20 ft
Sun exposure: Semi-shade; shade
Cold tolerance: Tolerates light freezing to about 30°F for short periods (mature plants). Young plants must be protected.
Watering: Regular
Flower color: White and off-white
Suitable for: Outdoors in the suitable USDA zone; small gardens, containers, and indoor growing
Fragrance: Fragrant; perfume plantA slow growing, compact shrub. It bears small, shiny deep green leaves and tiny spring-blooming heavily scented cream flowers streaked with purple. Pruning produces abundant new flowering growth. Prefers neutral to acid, humus-rich, well-drained soil; they resent being transplanted. The banana shrub is so called because of the distinctive, sweet banana scent of its flowers. These are formed within interesting fuzzy brown bracts that form a 1 in (2.5 cm) cigar-shaped bud, from which small off-white flowers burst forth from late spring through summer. The blossoms are about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) in diameter with each of six waxy petals delicately outlined in dark red.
See Article about Tropical Magnolias.
See also Plants with scents as heady as incense: Enchanted Magnolias - Joy in your life...
Similar plants: Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia)
- Magnolia champaca (Joy Perfume Tree)
- Magnolia doltsopa (Sweet Michelia)
- Magnolia floribunda (Magnolia)
- Magnolia rajaniana (Champa Khao)
- Magnolia x Alba (White Champak)
- Magnolia acuminata (Cucumber Tree)
- Magnolia coco (Dwarf Magnolia)
- Magnolia cylindrica (Huang-shan Magnolia )
- Magnolia delavayi (Chinese Evergreen Magnolia )
- Magnolia grandiflora (Southern Magnolia)
Magnolia figo buds reveal cream white petals amidst thick oval dark green leaves
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) white flower with yellow center and green oval shaped shiny foliage.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) shows thick, waxy, oval green leaves covering thin woody stems
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) flower with cream colored petals and deep purple center details.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) flower with creamy white petals and center stamens
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) tree showing dense branching habit with oval leaves and thick stems.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy white flower with textured brown center and single upright green leaf.
Magnolia figo creamy white flower with brown stamens and smooth curved petals.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) showing creamy white flower nestled among many dense, waxy green leaves.
Magnolia figo flower with creamy white petals and thick dark brown center
Magnolia figo buds with soft fuzzy skin and smooth white inner petals visible
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) purple flower opening with yellow center amid lush green leaves
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) white flower with a distinct center surrounded by lush green foliage.
Magnolia figo stems with small brown fuzzy buds attached to green leaves
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) purple flower bud nestled among glossy green leaves on thin stems
Magnolia figo stems carry small fuzzy yellow buds among thick green leaves.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy yellow flower with dark center and overlapping rounded petals.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) flower with cream petals surrounding a cluster of dark purple stamens.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) buds emerge with soft fuzzy texture along the dark woody stem.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) buds nestled among oval green leaves on a small plant branch.
Magnolia figo plant with many small oval leaves growing from the dark soil
Magnolia figo with dense green foliage and smooth oval leaf shapes.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy white flower with brown central stamen near green leaf.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) cream flowers nestled between thick leathery leaves on branches
Magnolia figo branches thick with pointed dark green leaves in dense arrangement
Magnolia figo with glossy green leaves attached to a thin brown stem
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) flower with soft white petals surrounding golden yellow stamens on stem.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) with small purple flowers nestled among smooth oval green foliage leaves.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy flower with purple tints and dark green waxy leaves surrounding it.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) pale yellow flower showing inner stamens next to dark green leaves.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy white flower attached to a thin brown woody branch.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy white flower with many tan stamens on a thin branch.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) branch with smooth, oval, green leaves attached to thin wooden stems.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy white flower with distinct tan center on brown woody stem.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) flower with creamy yellow petals and a central green core
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) dense shrub with glossy oval green leaves in black plastic container.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) cream flowers nestled among thick glossy green leaves on the plant
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) creamy white flower with a bee visible among central brown stamens.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) flower petals surrounding a central green stigma and purple stamens.
Magnolia figo (Banana Magnolia) plant with dense green foliage potted in a dark nursery container.
Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/magnolia_figo.htm
Michelia Figo, Banana Magnolia. Spring-blooming, heavily scented, cream flowers streaked with purple. The banana shrub is so called because of the distinctive, sweet banana scent of its flowers. The plant is cold hardy, prefers filtered light, also a good choice for container culture. See picture of the plant.
Recommended Fertilizer: SUNSHINE Pikake - Fragrant Flower Booster
Recommended Fertilizer: SUNSHINE Pikake - Fragrant Flower Booster
Grown in
6"/1 gal pot