Future Plants by Randy Stewart: Pineapple Lily

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Pineapple Lily

Eucomis

* historical archive photo

Eucomis 'Aloha Leia'
A clumping perennial, reaching up to 14 x 15 inches in size.
The strap-shaped foliage is mid-green.
The coconut-fragrant, reddish-pink ( flushed purple ) flowers appear on dense, upright spikes over a long season during summer. Each flower spike is topped by a crown of bright green bracts. The flowers are attractive to pollinators.
Hardy zones 8 to 10 ( 6 & 7 on protected site with thick mulch ) in full sun. The bulbs are planted 6 inches deep.

* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

Eucomis autumnalis
A bulbous perennial, reaching a maximum height of 1 foot.
The wavy-margined, broad strap-shaped leaves are mid-green.
The greenish-white flowers are borne on dense clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, well drained soil. Keep moist while actively growing and mulched throughout the year.

* photo taken @ Smithsonian Inst, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

Eucomis bicolor
A bulbous perennial, reaching a maximum height of 2 feet.
The wavy-margined, strap-shaped leaves, up to 2 feet in length, are bright green.
The pink and green flowers are borne on dense clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, well drained soil. Keep moist while actively growing and mulched throughout the year.

Eucomis comosa
A long-lived perennial, forming a clump up to 2 x 4.2 feet, that is native to southern Africa.
The strap-shaped leaves, up to 2 feet long, are deep green.
The upright, greenish-white flower spikes, up to 2 feet high, last for a period up to 8 weeks, beginning during mid-summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, well drained soil. Keep moist while actively growing and mulched throughout the year. The bulbs should be planted 5 inches deep during spring after the chance of frost has passed.

* photo taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photos taken @ U.S. Botanical Garden, Wash., DC on Aug 25 2014

* photo taken on Aug 1 2022 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photo taken on July 10 2024 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

Eucomis 'Oakhurst' ( Oakhurst Pineapple Lily )
A bulbous perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet. It is similar to Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' but is a zone hardier or at least almost so.
The wavy-margined, strap-shaped leaves, up to 2 feet in length, are deep red.
The purplish flowers are borne on dense clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 6 to 9 ( 5b on protected site with deep winter mulch or snow cover where available ) in full sun to partial shade on deep, rich, well drained soil. Keep moist while actively growing and mulched throughout the year. The bulbs should be planted 6 inches deep during early spring.

Eucomis pallidiflora
A vigorous bulbous perennial, reaching a maximum height of 2.5 feet.
The wavy-margined, strap-shaped leaves, up to 2 feet in length, are mid-green.
The greenish-white flowers are borne on dense clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 8 to 9 in full sun to partial shade on fertile, well drained soil. Keep moist while actively growing and mulched throughout the year.

Eucomis pole-evansii
A perennial, reaching up to 5 x 5 feet in size.
Tje lance-shaped leaves, up to 36 x 5 inches in size, are glossy bright to mid green.
The flowers are greenish-white to yellowish-green.
Hardy zones 8 to 11 in full sun to partial shade.

* photo taken on August 2 2010 in Bayfield, Ontario

Eucomis 'Sparkling Burgundy' ( Purple Pineapple Lily )
A bulbous perennial, reaching a maximum height of 3 feet, that originated as a selection of horticulturalist Tony Avent of North Carolina.
The wavy-margined, strap-shaped leaves, up to 2 feet in length, are deep red.
The purplish flowers are borne on dense clusters during late summer.
Hardy zones 7 to 9 ( 6 on protected site with mulch ) in full sun to partial shade on well drained soil. Keep moist while actively growing and mulched throughout the year.

* photo taken on May 16 2011 in Washington, D.C.