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Last month I saw these flower spikes of eucomis (pineapple lily) making an impressive show in a sunny garden border. The range of their colours, from white through pinks and peachy tones to the dark wine-red buds and stems, made them a most attractive sight. (And, of course, an irresistible subject for a photograph or two.)
My photographs don’t show the reason for the ‘pineapple lily’ name because the little cluster of leaves at the very top of the spike hadn’t yet grown to their full size. (You can just see the still-tiny leaves amongst the topmost flower buds.) Once they are fully-grown, these leaves sit in a little upright crown above the flowers, giving the appearance of a floral pineapple. (You can see what a green-flowered cultivar looks like when it has matured, and is creating its pineapple impersonation in this post.)
I wondered if eucomis might be drought-resistant enough for me to plant in my own garden, but it flowers best if it’s not allowed to dry out during growth. With our rainfall being so low, I feel that I should choose plants that can cope with little water. All the same, I’m tempted to try this plant, which appears to be Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Burgundy’. (Even the leaves can be spectacular – they’re a deep purplish-red in spring, before turning green in summer.) Perhaps it would be a good candidate for growing in a pot, which could then be taken into the protection of the conservatory in winter. It would certainly add a bit of excitement to the garden in late summer.
Ann Mackay: Inspired by Nature 
This is a beauty – I love plants with dark stems. I’ve seen many growing this successfully in pots in my cold climate, though I haven’t tried it myself.
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I’ve seen a green one growing in a pot somewhere locally and it looked very good. Having it in a pot would make it easier to protect if we get a very cold winter. The dark stems attracted me and I saw the leaves a month or so before when they were still the same wonderful colour as the stems and buds…they were spectacular with the sun glowing through them. (A photo for another post.)
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I have a pineapple lily, in a pot. I’ve had it for years and it’s a very sturdy plant; I love the flowers, speckled stems and exuberant leaves. It is pot bound now, the bulbs have increased and fill the pot, but it seems happy enough with that too. I can’t shift it!
The one thing about it though is that on a warm day, the flowers smell disgusting! Not all pineapple lilies are like this, I think this one is eucomis bicolour. My family hate it, I just find it fascinating that it’s evolved in this way to attract carrion flies, its pollinators.
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LOL, that’s a good warning! If I do grow it, I will have to put it somewhere that it can be easily seen but not smelt! (And maybe it’s a plant that you would want to have in any large quantity!) Thanks for the tip! 🙂
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I like the abstract complexity of the closer view at the top. Never having heard of pineapple lilies, I looked up Eucomis and found it comes from southern Africa.
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I had wondered if its place of origin would make it a bit tender for the garden, but it seems to be reasonably hardy in most winters here (between about -5 to -10°C). It seems to be comparable to other South African bulbs like Agapanthus and Nerines. Even so, we do get the odd extended cold spell and I think that very wet soil might make the bulbs rot, so a pot might be safer.
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Here’s what you’ve got:
Like it or not,
Do use a pot
To avoid rot.
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Hehe, well put!😁
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These are exquisite inflorescence, Ann…lovely!
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They are beautiful flowers and I’d love to grow them…thanks Indira!
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I was thinking to myself “perhaps a pot would solve the problem” when you went right ahead and mentioned the possiblity of a pot! Great minds, thinking alike, and all that. It is a pretty plant, and very interesting that it’s pollinated by flies attracted by the unpleasant scent. That reminded me of the so-called Corpse Flower (Titum arum) that I saw in Houston some years ago. It was quite a local celebrity; the Museum of Natural History had a live stream 24/7 of its growth and bloom, and despite the foul odor people lined up to see it. Its name was Lois; it was named after a staff member’s mother.
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LOL, I can’t help wondering what the reaction of that staff member’s mother was!😂 In this case, I’m glad that smellivision doesn’t exist! If I do try growing eucomis, I’ll keep the pot away from any garden seats. 🙂
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Beautiful!
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Thank you! I’m glad you liked it! 🙂
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