Plant Database
Banana Shrub
Michelia figo
Despite its name, the Banana Shrub is a member of the magnolia family, celebrated for its unique flowers that emit a delightful, sweet fragrance uncannily reminiscent of ripe bananas. This easy-going, hardy evergreen shrub is covered in small, creamy-yellow, magnolia-like flowers in spring. It is a charming, trouble-free, and reliably hardy choice for adding a touch of whimsical fragrance to Bay Area gardens.
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Produces small, creamy yellow to purple-tinged flowers in spring that release a strong, sweet, banana-like fragrance.
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An exceptionally tough, adaptable, and cold-hardy evergreen shrub (to around 10°F / -12°C), thriving in sun or part shade with moderate water.
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Requires minimal care, is pest-resistant, and can be easily pruned to shape or maintain size as a large shrub or small multi-trunked tree.
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A fantastic, low-risk introduction to fragrant shrubs that performs reliably throughout the entire Bay Area.