Ananas comosus var. variegatus (Variegated Pineapple)

Native to Brazil, Ananas comosus var. variegatus (Variegated Pineapple) is a short-stemmed terrestrial bromeliad forming a dense evergreen rosette of 30-50 stiff, sword-shaped, dark green leaves, up to 3 ft. long (90 cm), with a broad creamy stripe along each edge, and spiny margins. In summer, it produces a striking cone-like cluster of up to 200 individual purple and red flowers, which then fuse together to form a bright red, edible pineapple, up to 12 in. long (30 cm). The fruit is topped by a rosette of short, stiff, spirally arranged leaves, the crown. Pineapple production is continuous in the tropics. In subtropics, harvest is usually during the summer months. One of the most popular fruits in the world, Pineapple ranks third in the production of tropical fruits, behind bananas and citrus. Ananas comosus is grown for its delicious fruit, but it is also cultivated as an ornamental plant due to the beauty of the evergreen foliage, flowers, and fruit.

• Grows up to 3-4 ft. tall and wide (90-120 cm). The plant requires 11 – 36 months from planting until the first crop of fruit.
• Performs best in full sun in acidic, loose, sandy, organically rich, well-drained soils in a protected location. Intolerant of cold, Pineapples grow best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within 70-86°F (21-30°C).
• Pineapples need high humidity, which can be provided by putting the pot on a tray of wet pebbles to increase humidity around them.
• Water freely when growing and flowering, reduce slightly and add a balanced liquid feed weekly when in fruit, keep barely moist at other times. Established plants are very drought tolerant.
• Pineapples can be grown indoors in a warm greenhouse or in a container as a houseplant. Indoor fruits are usually quite small and not particularly tasty but are ornamentally attractive.
• Keep an eye out for wilt, root rot, nematodes, scale, thrips, and mealybugs.
• Propagation: Root basal offsets in early summer, or sever the leafy rosette at the top of the fruit, allow it a day or two to callus then root it in a barely-moist mix of peat, or peat substitute, and sand in indirect light at 70°F (21°C)
• Native to Brazil.