Pineapple Lilies, Pineapple Flowers, Pineapple Plants
Eucomis, also known as pineapple lily, captivate with their exotic charm and striking spikes of starry flowers.
Eucomis, commonly known as Pineapple Lily, is native to southern Africa. The plant can be found in diverse habitats ranging from marshy lowlands to dry, mountainous regions.
Description: Eucomis is a genus of flowering plants in the Asparagaceae family. It’s recognized for its striking, exotic look with a flower head resembling a pineapple, hence the common name.
Growth Habit: Eucomis is a bulbous perennial, growing from a bulb and returning year after year. It has a distinctive rosette-forming growth habit, with leaves radiating out from the center.
Size: Depending on the species, Eucomis can range in height from 10 inches (25 cm) for smaller varieties up to 30 inches (75 cm) for the larger ones. They typically spread about 12-18 inches.
Flowers: The flowers of Eucomis are star-shaped, usually in shades of white, green, pink, or purple. They form a dense, cylindrical spike (raceme) topped with a ‘cap’ of leafy bracts, giving the appearance of a pineapple.
Foliage: Eucomis has broad, strap-shaped leaves that form a basal rosette. The leaves are usually green, although some cultivars have dark purple or burgundy foliage.
Blooming Season: Eucomis typically blooms for 6 to 8 weeks in late summer or early fall, providing late-season interest in the garden.
Hardiness: Eucomis is hardy and can be grown in USDA hardiness zones 7-10. In colder climates, bulbs can be dug up in the fall and stored indoors over winter.
Uses: Due to its unique, exotic appearance, Eucomis is often used as a focal point in the garden. It’s ideal for borders, containers, and tropical-themed gardens.
Pollinators: Rich in nectar, the flowers of Eucomis attract bees, butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators, contributing to biodiversity in the garden.
Toxicity: Pineapple lilies are generally considered non-toxic to humans. However, it’s always advisable to exercise caution and keep them out of reach of children and pets, as individual sensitivities and reactions may vary.
Deer and Rabbit: Eucomis plants are typically resistant to deer and rabbits.
Invasiveness: While Eucomis can slowly spread by producing offsets, it is not considered invasive.
Growing Pineapple Lily in your garden can offer a range of benefits, from aesthetic appeal to easy maintenance. Here are some reasons why you might consider adding this unique plant to your garden:
Striking Appearance: With its unusual, pineapple-like flower heads and lush, rosette-forming foliage, Pineapple Lily can add a unique, tropical feel to your garden.
Late Season Interest: Pineapple Lily blooms in late summer or early fall, providing color and interest in the garden when many other plants start to fade.
Easy to Grow: Pineapple Lily is a hardy plant that can tolerate a range of conditions, making it a relatively low-maintenance option for gardeners.
Attracts Pollinators: The flowers of the Pineapple Lily attract bees and other pollinators, which can help increase your garden’s biodiversity and support the local ecosystem.
Deer and Rabbit Resistant: Pineapple Lily is typically resistant to deer and rabbits, making it a good choice if these pests are a problem in your area.
Versatile Uses: Pineapple Lily can be used in a variety of ways in the garden, from a focal point in a flower bed or border to a unique addition to a container garden, or even part of a tropical-themed garden.
Interesting Cut Flowers: The long-lasting, unique blooms make interesting additions to cut flower arrangements.
| Hardiness |
7 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 12 |
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Bulbs |
| Genus | Eucomis |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Late) Fall |
| Height |
10" - 3' (25cm - 90cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 5" (13cm) |
| Depth | 3" (8cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
The Pineapple Lily can be an interesting and exotic addition to your garden design. With its striking appearance, it can create a unique, tropical feel. Here are some ways to incorporate this lily into your garden:
Tropical Theme: Given its unique, pineapple-like blooms, Eucomis can help create or enhance a tropical or exotic theme in your garden. Pair it with other tropical-appearing plants like canna lilies, elephant ears, and ornamental grasses.
Focal Point: Pineapple Lily’s distinctive blooms make it an excellent choice for a garden focal point. Position it at a key point in a flower bed or border to draw the eye.
Container Planting: Eucomis does well in containers, allowing you to position it strategically for maximum impact. A large pot with a single Eucomis can be a striking display, or you can combine it with complementary plants for a mixed arrangement.
Border or Bed Planting: In borders or beds, Eucomis can be planted towards the front where its unique flowers can be seen up close. Alternatively, taller varieties can be placed at the back of a border to provide height and interest.
Cut Flower Garden: Pineapple Lily’s long-lasting, unique blooms make wonderful cut flowers. Consider adding them to a cutting garden to enjoy their beauty indoors.
Pollinator Garden: The flowers of Pineapple Lily are known to attract bees and other pollinators, so consider incorporating them into a pollinator-friendly garden design.
Late Summer Interest: Since Eucomis blooms in late summer or early fall, use it in your design where it can provide color and interest at a time when many other plants are winding down.
Pineapple Lily has a unique and tropical appearance that pairs well with various plants in the garden. When choosing companion plants for Pineapple Lily, consider plants with similar sunlight and moisture requirements and those that will complement the plant’s unique structure and late-season blooming period. Here are some ideas:
Ornamental Grasses: The spiky foliage and airy plumes of ornamental grasses, such as fountain grass (Pennisetum), can contrast beautifully with the broad leaves and dense flower spikes of Pineapple Lily.
Other Bulbs: Pineapple Lily pairs well with other summer-blooming bulbs such as lilies (Lilium), dahlias, lilies of the Nile (Agaptanthus), and sword-lilies (Gladiolus), which can provide a succession of blooms throughout the summer.
Late-Season Perennials: Since Pineapple Lily blooms in late summer or early fall, plant it alongside other late-season bloomers like coneflowers (Echinacea), black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia), bee balm (Monarda) or autumn sedum to keep the color going.
Foliage Plants: The unique, pineapple-like flower structure of Pineapple Lily can be showcased beautifully when surrounded by plants that provide contrasting foliage, like hostas or coral bells.
Tropical-Looking Plants: Enhance the exotic look of your garden by pairing Pineapple Lily with other tropical-looking plants such as canna lilies, elephant ears (Colocasia), or banana plants.
Container Companions: For container plantings, consider combining Pineapple Lily with trailing plants like creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia) or ivy, which will spill over the edges of the pot and provide a nice contrast to the upright structure of the Pineapple Lily.
Remember to consider the growth habits and needs of your companion plants, making sure they are compatible with the needs of the Pineapple Lily, which prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
Growing Eucomis can bring a tropical touch to your garden. Here are steps on how to grow these unique plants:
Selecting a Location: Pineapple Lily prefers a location in full sun. While part shade is tolerated, flowering may not be as profuse. In hot summer climates, some afternoon shade may help to prevent foliage from browning. They need a location with good air circulation but should be protected from strong winds.
Soil Preparation: Eucomis prefers rich, well-drained soil. Working in some compost or other organic matter before planting can help to improve soil fertility and drainage.
Planting Bulbs: Plant Eucomis bulbs in the spring after the risk of frost has passed. Bulbs should be planted 3 inches (7 cm) deep and spaced 5 inches (12 cm) apart, with the pointed end facing upwards.
Watering: After planting, water well. Keep the soil evenly moist during the growing season, but be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to bulb rot.
Fertilizing: Providing a balanced flower fertilizer every two weeks promotes robust growth in pineapple lilies, increasing their size and vigor. Fertilized plants are also more prone to producing offsets..
Aftercare: After the flowers have faded, let the plant’s leaves photosynthesize to create food for next year’s blooms. Only cut back the foliage once it has yellowed and died back naturally.
Overwintering: In colder climates (below USDA hardiness zone 7), dig up the bulbs in the fall, let them dry, and store them in a cool, dry place over winter. Replant in the spring after the danger of frost has passed.
Pests and Diseases: Keep an eye out for common bulb pests like slugs, snails or aphids, and diseases such as bulb rot, particularly in overly wet conditions.
With these steps, you can grow a beautiful Pineapple Lily that can add an exotic touch to your garden. Please remember that all parts of the Pineapple Lily plant are toxic if ingested and can cause skin irritation on contact, so handle with care.
| Hardiness |
7 - 10 |
|---|---|
| Heat Zones |
1 - 12 |
| Climate Zones | 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, H1, H2 |
| Plant Type | Bulbs |
| Genus | Eucomis |
| Exposure | Full Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer (Late) Fall |
| Height |
10" - 3' (25cm - 90cm) |
| Spread |
1' - 2' (30cm - 60cm) |
| Spacing | 5" (13cm) |
| Depth | 3" (8cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Average |
| Soil Type | Chalk, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Moist but Well-Drained, Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Tolerance | Deer, Rabbit |
| Attracts | Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Landscaping Ideas | Beds And Borders, Edging, Patio And Containers |
| Garden Styles | City and Courtyard, Informal and Cottage, Traditional Garden |
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
