BULBS > EUCOMIS
IN THIS GUIDE
EUCOMIS GUIDES
Sometimes you see a works that expect so different that it makes you pause , look carefully , and experience a renewed admiration for the majesty and boundless creativity of nature .
For me , the ananas lily does on the nose that .
mayhap it ’s the crocked cylindrical bushel of flowers flower atop a retentive , fragile stem – or peradventure the tuft of thick , almost succulent - look bract on top of that .
E. vandermerwei
Whatever it is , it ’s hard to fence that this is n’t a prominent and captivating industrial plant .
Overview
PreferredFull Sun
ExposureSheltered
Height0.1 – 0.5 M
Spread0.1 – 0.5 M
Bloom TimeJuly – September
PreferredChalk , loam , sand
MoistureMoist but well run out
pHAny
So if you ’re looking for something to grow that will really pick up people ’s center , then depend no further .
Let ’s begin by clarifying that pineapple liliesaren’tpineapples , and the two plants are entirely unrelated .
Eucomis just takes the common name ‘ Ananas comosus lily ’ from the fact that its flowers and bracts meld to look a little bit like the tropic fruit .
“ Eucomis are fantastic for create an alien , even other - worldly , finger to the garden , ” shares Colin Skelly , a Master Horticulturist .
E. vandermerwei
“ They combine well with other alien leafage plant or late - summer efflorescence like Dahlia or Crocosmia . ”
The genus Eucomis hails naturally from areas in Southern Africa , but has since become popular amongst gardener around the world for its interesting aesthetic.1Eucomis . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . Retrieved March 15 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:24249-1
Thanks to its alien appearance and the wide range of colouring you ’ll find amongst its cultivars , the pineapple plant lily make a great addition to any garden wait to move beyond familiar plant life and play with faraway base .
How To Grow Eucomis
Because of its Southern African inheritance , Eucomis is used to tender temperature than the average UK mood permit for .
With this in mind , it ’s authoritative to choose a spot that wo n’t endanger your plant to frosts or cold weather which could harm or even obliterate it .
If you live on in the south of the UK , or overseas in a region with a similar clime , you should be ok planting your pineapple lily at once into the ground , as long as you choose the right maculation .
‘Pink Gin’
If you live in coolheaded part , consider planting out your Ananas comosus lily in a container so that you could move it somewhere ardent ( perhaps even indoors ) when the stale weather band in .
Whichever you go for , the right spot should be somewhere that gets full sunshine , and can drain well .
check that you factor in nicety fromother industrial plant , not just from fences , wall , and alike .
Any shade will endanger the power of your Eucomis to pass its full bloom potential difference .
Pineapple lily bulbs need to be planted jolly deep to protect them against frost harm , ideally about 15 cm .
Because pineapple lilies can grow jolly high , choose a pot with enough weight and width to stay stable .
A steady pot will be prone to tip when the plant get through full height and becomes top - heavy .
engraft bulbs at least 7 - 8 atomic number 96 apart – any close than this and they will crowd each other , but you ’ve got flexibility in the other direction : bigger gaps will create more roomy displays .
Bulbs do n’t need to be as deep in the soil when produce in a container – the peak should be just below the soil airfoil .
Eucomis Care
The Eucomis UK grow time of year spans from April to former October , and the works must be kept well - water throughout .
If it dry out your pineapple lily will flower less sky-high and , given that the exotic bloom is one of the independent attraction of the plant , this result is easily avoid !
For pineapple lily growing outdoors , fertilize each spring will encourage unattackable growth .
A universal fertiliser will do the trick .
In a container , give your Eucomis a fortnightly dose of fluid feed to keep it healthy .
crack the directions on the packaging to verify the feed is worthy , and that you ’re using the correct dose .
You ’ll be proud of to get word that ananas lily do n’t ask any fighting pruning .
All you need to do is take off stagnant farewell , and cut away any mussy flower head .
Eucomis come from a climate much warmer than ours , where it never has to put up with the sort of temperatures that a UK winter fetch .
With this in judgement , it ’s important to take footstep to protect the plant from the coldness .
you may leave pineapple lily in the ground over winter if you live in a southerly region of the UK , or somewhere with an equivalent climate .
They ’ll need a stratum of mulch , about 10 cm thick , to keep them as insulated as potential from the frigid elements .
Alternatively , you may cautiously pull in the plant and bulb from the ground , then store somewhere warmer until next outpouring .
A nursery , shed , or sideboard in your house should do the trick .
If you ’re originate in a container , this step is much easier – simply get the container indoors .
If you stop watering the plant your pineapple plant lilies will become abeyant , patiently waiting for the first glugs of water and sunshine next spring .
Eucomis Varieties
There are several types of Pineapple Lily , ranging in colour and size .
The royal - white bloom of the bicolor , or the sour red of theE. comosa , or even the hot pink of the ‘ Pink Gin ’ variety : each bring a unlike aesthetic and ambience to your garden .
Here are two cultivar ( both present the RHS AGM for suitability to UK produce ) to give an approximation of the variety on go :
Botanical Name : E. bicolor
Bicolor , if you did n’t guess , refer to the two colour this cultivar shoot a line .
The fleeceable leaves around the central rosette irrupt into a stunning white - purple in summertime , contrasting attractively against the brown stems that lift the flowers proudly aloft .
This kind likes full sun and will do substantially in a Dixie , west or east - face up aspect .
It wo n’t do well in clayey soil , and the ground demand to be capable to drain well to advertize optimal growth .
While fairly diminutive , the 0.5 m taken up by aE. bicolorcontains more than enough visual interest to make it worthwhile to grow .
Botanical Name : E. pallidiflora
sacrifice that the bicolor hand around half a metre in height and width , you might expect the ‘ jumbo ’ pineapple lily to consider in at a couple of time , at least .
As it fall out , though , this cultivar reaches a maximum tiptop of about a metre .
Despite a more or less misleading name , the pallidifloraisa sight to behold .
White flower split forth in summertime and stick around until autumn , extending the optical interest of this variety beyond some other flora .
As with bicolor , the pallidiflora likes full sun , well - draining soil , and no Henry Clay .
It does secure in a south- or east - facing aspect , and will take up to five twelvemonth to reach its full acme .
Common Problems
We ’ve cover the main problems most gardeners come across already , but let ’s quickly recap those before expect at other pests and problem :
This can be get by your ananas lily getting too much specter , either from social organisation or other plants , as well as being leave dry too often .
Pick a spot in full sun with well - run out soil , and water system on a regular basis to nullify this offspring .
This plant need superfluous caution to keep it warm over winter , as it ’s not naturalised to British winter temperature .
Either overcompensate outdoor bulbs with a thick bed of mulch , or bring container indoors .
Just like fairly much every other works , Eucomis is prostrate to visitations from slugs , escargot , and aphid .
Each of these pests enjoys junket on your plants , eat their foliage and jeopardise their power to thrive .
forcible deterrent can ferment against slugs or snail : a level of fleece around the stems , for deterrent example .
Or you could plant something sacrificial nearby : a works such as Nasturtium , designed to attract their care away from more prized flush .
With aphids , you have to monitor the plant manually to verify no small green critters are taking residency on the leaves .
If they do , they ’ll suck the sap and cause esthetic equipment casualty or , if left unchecked , depart a more lasting wallop on the wellness of your pineapple lily .
Manually removing aphids and their larva is one option , and if they continue returning , bet for a pesticide to monish further sojourn .
Whether you go for a standalone pineapple lily in a container , or you mix the blossom into a more comprehensive display , we check you that visitors to your garden will change state their heads , captivated by the striking smasher of the plant .
It may feel like a little more work than is required by some other plant , but hope us : It ’s well worth it .
