Banana Shrub is native to southern China and was first described from a specimen found in Macao, where the species name figo derives from the local word for banana, a reference to the extraordinary fragrance rather than any resemblance in form. The flowers are cup-shaped, cream to pale yellow, up to four inches across in some cultivars, and they open in mid to late spring from buds held at a characteristic 30-degree angle to the stem. The dense, upright, evergreen habit grows at a moderate pace to 6 to 10 feet and eventually to 20 feet, making it useful as a screen, a specimen, or a fragrant backdrop to a border.

Protection from strong winds is essential, and consistent moisture throughout the year keeps it performing well. It prefers partial shade but tolerates full sun, though the foliage can yellow slightly in intense light. In zone 7 gardens, avoid south-facing exposures that might encourage early bud break before the frost risk has passed. Prune soon after flowering, since next season’s buds begin forming by early summer, and mulch the root zone in winter where temperatures push toward the lower limit of its hardiness.