Bulbs
Crowning Glory ™ ' Purple Reign ' . Photo by : Proven Winners
Pineapple lily ( Eucomis ) is neither a true lily nor related to the tropical fruit , yet it ’s soft to see how it garner its common name . Boasting heart - catch flowers that resemble miniature pineapple , this South African native is often used to bring tropical flair to garden bottom and containers . In midsummer , it sends up improbable steeple of tiny adept - shape blooms coronate by spiky tufts of pineapple - corresponding bract . In addition to its striking flowers , pineapple lily also has attractive arching foliage , construct it a showstopper even when not in blooming .
Despite their exotic appearing , pineapple lilies are incredibly easy to grow and some are winter hardy to geographical zone 6 . In colder climates , you may enjoy them as annuals or store the bulbs indoors during the winter months for replant the following spring .
On this page : Basics|Growing Tips|Care and Maintenance|Pictures|Frequently Asked Questions
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BASICS
Botanical name:
Eucomisspp . and loan-blend
Common names:
Pineapple lily , Ananas comosus blossom , Martin Luther King Jr. ’s flower
Zones:
7 - 10 , with some hardy to partition 6
Exposure:
Full sunlight to fond shade
Bloom time:
Mid to late summertime , with the blooms last for 6 to 8 calendar week
Height/spread:
1 to 3 foundation tall and 2 to 4 substructure wide , depending on the smorgasbord
Flowers:
May be purple , pink , yellow , or white , with some varieties having bicolored blooms . The superstar - shaped florets open from the bottom of the flush capitulum upward over a geological period of several weeks .
Foliage:
tolerant , strappy leaf with wavy edges form an attractive funnel - shaped rosette . Colors range from deep green to shades of regal and burgundy .
Uses:
miscellaneous borders , alone or as a thriller in container planting , tropical - theme garden , rock gardens , orcut flower gardens .
Special attributes:
HOW TO PLANT PINEAPPLE LILY
Pineapple lily bulbs . exposure by : Sarycheva Olesia / Shutterstock
When to plant:
In leaping after all risk of frost has passed and the soil temperature has warmed to at least 65 degrees F. you’re able to also plant the bulbs in pots indoors about a month before it ’s warm enough to move them outdoors in late fountain .
Where to plant:
For optimum flowering , flora in a daub that encounter full sun ( at last 6 hours daily ) . In southern gardens , where the sun is more intense , a spot that receive some afternoon nicety can help preclude scorching of the leaf .
Soil requirements:
The idealistic soil for Ananas comosus lily is deep , porous and enfeeble well , yet still retains enough moisture for the plant life ’s roots . If your soil is cloggy or compacted , improve it with compost or other organic matter to assist ameliorate drainage .
Planting in the garden:
you may buy eucomis works as dormant bulbs or as potted nursery starts in the spring . However , the latter are often easier to find and will give you a head start on planting .
If grow from medulla , plant the bulbs root side down in a hole 6 inches deep , spacing them 10 to 12 inches apart . Cover with soil and water system softly , keeping the soil evenly moist until the bulbs sprout .
If growing from baby’s room starts , prod a hole about twice as wide and the same depth as the root bollock and mix in in any amendment , as need . come out the flora in the hole so the cap is level with the ring soil and then backfill . Tamp down the soil softly to remove air pockets , and weewee thoroughly .
Growing in containers:
In climate where ananas lilies are not wintertime hardy , the easiest way to produce them is in a container you could move into a protected placement during the winter months . If grow from bulb , plant them to a depth of 3 to 4 inches in a well - draining soilless potting mix . by and large , three bulbs will nicely take out a 12 - inch - diameter container . check that the pot you choose has pile of drainage holes in the bottom to prevent soggy soil .
Propagation:
By seed or by removing bulb offset from established plants in the spring . ( * See eminence below on propagating patented plant . determine your industrial plant tags for ® or ™ symbol next to the plant name . )
PINEAPPLE LILY CARE
Watering:
In give and summertime , when plants are actively growing , body of water to keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged , provide about an inch of water per week . Container - produce plant may need more frequent watering . In fall , after works have finished bloom , weewee more sparingly . Pineapple lilies need teetotal term when they are abeyant to prevent putrefaction and maintain bulb health .
Fertilizing:
To keep your Ananas comosus lilies lush and bloom vigorously , feed them with a balanced , water - soluble fertilizer in the springiness as shortly as you see new emergence emerge , and then reapply monthly until the grow season ends in early fall . Withhold fertilizing during the winter calendar month .
Pruning:
: Pineapple lilies want no pruning , other than to take away dead or damage foliage . After blooming has finished for the season , leave the foliage entire and let it pall back naturally . The leaves will continue to gather Energy Department from the sun to be stored in the bulb for next year ’s flowers . you could take the dry foliage once it turns lily-livered and wilt to the soil in the declension .
Pests and problems:
Pineapple lily is not susceptible to serious pestilence or disease problems , but watch out forsnails and slug , especially on sensitive young foliation .
PINEAPPLE LILY VARIETIES
pic by : Proven Winners
top Glory ™ ' Purple Reign'—Buy now from Proven WinnersEucomishybrid
Zones:6 - 9Height and spread:18 to 20 inch tall , 24 inches wide
feature article vertical pink - purple blossom spikes raise by deep burgundy leaf that keep its grim coloration well into summer . Although this eucomis is slow to issue in the spring , once it bloom in late summertime , the flowers will last for weeks .
Crowning Glory ™ ' Princess Bride'—Buy now from Proven WinnersEucomishybrid
send off up numerous stalks of dazzle citron tree yellow flowers that turn a soft pink and yellow as they mature . The long , arching leaf also shifts coloring material , starting off burgundy when it first emerges and then turning a bass green in summertime . Makes a nice specimen plant as well as a showy thriller in container combining .
' African Night’Eucomis’African Night '
Zones:6 - 9Height and spread:24 to 36 inches tall , 36 to 48 column inch wide
This striking pineapple plant lily is named for its deep plum , well-nigh disastrous foliage , which gradually lightens to olive honey oil as the season move on . In late summer , rosy pink bloom spike come forth on benighted burgundy stem , topped off by fit burgundy bracts .
' Safari Adventure’Eucomis’Safari Adventure '
exchangeable to ' African Night ' , but with bicolor flowers that start off a creamy white and conversion to a rich flushed purple as they age . The mystifying European olive tree green foliage is stress by hints of Bourgogne .
Photo by : John R. Martin / Shutterstock
' Sparkling Burgundy’Eucomis comosa’Sparkling Burgundy '
Zones:7 - 9Height and spread:1 to 2 feet improbable and wide
develop dense spikes of purple - tinge blossom stomach on thick-skulled purple stem . The foresighted strap - like foliage are equally salient , starting out reddish - purple in natural spring and turn deep super acid as summertime arrives . After the flowers peak , they are supersede by pretty Bourgogne - colored seedpods that stretch forth the season of interest .
television by Walters Gardens / Proven Winners .
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do you do with pineapple lily after flowering?
It ’s fine to leave the played out blossom in home , unless you find them untempting . The bloom are replaced by shiny seed capsules that add ornamental interest to the garden while providing a food beginning for birds .
Are pineapple lilies hardy?
MostEucomisare hardy to geographical zone 7 and possibly lower if you handle your plant with a thick stratum of mulch in the winter to help isolate them from extreme cold . Container - grown plants should be moved to a protect location or indoors , ideally to a spot where temperatures stick around coolheaded but do n’t drop below 40 degrees F.
Do pineapple lilies come back every year?
Pineapple lily areperennials , intend they will flower twelvemonth after year when spring up in favourable weather condition . In climates where they are n’t wintertime hardy , you’re able to grow them as annuals or continue the bulbs for replanting the next spring by cut into them up in the fall and store them indoors in a nerveless , teetotal place . ( watch more about theafter - care and digging up of bulb . )
Do pineapple lilies like sun or shade?
Pineapple lilies uprise well in full sun or partial subtlety , but they may get few flowers if grown in a shadier fix . If your ananas lilies are n’t bloom , it could be due to deficient sunlight .
Are pineapple lily flowers fragrant?
Some metal money of Ananas comosus lily emit a distinguishable olfactory property that is sometimes likened to the tone of boil potatoes , a strategy the flora apply to attract pollinators – peculiarly flies . fortuitously , not all pineapple lily smell the same . The scent of many cultivars is less marked , making them utterly suitable for use as shortened flowers .
- REGARDING multiplication : When it comes to propagating patented plants , there are strict rules in position prohibiting replication or propagation of these plant in any way . This think you ca n’t reproduce them ( even for utilization in your own garden ) , sell them , or bring them into the country without permission . The law does not make exceptions for what some might consider minor misdemeanour . Any wildcat use of patented plants is view an violation .
