Flowering Banana Shrub

Botanical Name: Michelia figo or Magnolia figo

Banana shrub is a beautifully fragrant flowering plant. If you want to add a new tropical vibe to your home -- along with an intoxicating fragrance -- you'll want to give this irresistible gem a place in your home.

With this guide, you'll discover how to grow this Magnolia relative in a container, how to water, when to repot and fertilize, and more.

Captivating fragrance and pretty flowers make banana shrub a must-have houseplant. Photo ©tc397

Get to Know Your Houseplant

Banana shrub is a sub-tropical evergreen native to China. It makes a gorgeous container plant, and that's not all.

Its creamy yellow flowers, sometimes with a blush of purple, are small and cup-shaped, resembling mini magnolia blossoms. However, what makes the blooms especially captivating is their sweet banana-like fragrance.

Give your plant plenty of sunlight and you can expect a show of fragrant flowers in early spring, with blooms continuing sporadically through the summer.

Even before it blooms, its glossy, dark-green foliage is attractive. If you notice new leaves covered with brown fuzz, that's normal until they mature, growing to about 3-in (8 cm) long. Michelia figo banana shrub is evergreen and makes a beautiful indoor tree year-round.

How big does banana shrub get? You can expect mature plants to reach a height of 6 to 10 ft (1.8 to 3 m). It responds well to pruning and can be easily kept around 4-5 ft (1-1.5 m).

Michelia figo is also known as Magnolia figo because it is in the magnolia family, and may labeled by that name. You may have difficulty finding this fragrant shrub in garden centers unless you live in a tropical or subtropical climate. Look for it at online nurseries.

Problems, Solutions and Answers

Did you buy a small nursery plant? It may look sparse, with few branches and leaves. Give it time. Your banana shrub will soon grow lush and full. And Michelia figo is eager to bloom, so you won't have to wait long for the wonderfully scented flowers.

Wondering when to repot? Pot up only when the plant fills the container, moving to a pot that's only 1-2 inches larger. Why? Using a pot that's too big will hold too much water, which can lead to root rot. Besides, your banana shrub blooms best when its roots are slightly root-bound.

Brown leaf tips indicate dry soil or a build up of soluble salts. Soluble salts come from the chemicals in tap water and fertilizers and can damage foliage and roots. It's a good idea to flush salts from the soil every year.

Prune it back. Unlike many shrubs, this one is slow-growing, with a round, compact shape. It will grow tall unless you prune it back. Winter is the best time to prune. Cut just above a node. Cuts made here will encourage branching. Always use sharp pruners to avoid tearing the stems.

Indoor Banana Shrub Care

Light: Bright light to direct sun

Water: Small plants should be kept lightly moist. This shrub is drought-tolerant when it is grown. For larger plants, drench and dry: water thoroughly to moisten all the roots, then allow the top 1-2 inches to dry out before watering again. Use a pot with drainage holes -- soggy potting medium can lead to root rot. 

Humidity: Aim to maintain 50% relative humidity or higher. You can increase humidity around the plant by putting it on pebble tray. The pebbles keep the pot above the water so the roots don't rot. I do this for some of my plants and it works beautifully to add humidity to the air around them.

Temperature: Average room temperatures 65-75°F/18-24°C. This subtropical shrub is hardy to USDA Zone 8, so if you scoot the container outdoors for the warm months, bring it back in when the temp drops in autumn.

Soil: Slightly acidic medium that drains well, a peat moss-based potting mix such as African violet mix is ideal.

Fertilizer: Feed every 2-3 weeks with a high-phosphorous fertilizer, while plant is growing (spring and summer). I usually use half the recommended amount of fertilizer on the container. 

Propagation: Take 4 in (10 cm) stem tip cuttings (with leaves attached) in summer. Dip the cut ends in rooting hormone powder, then insert in sterile moist potting medium. They'll root easily in about 5-6 weeks.

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