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Pineapple Flower Wikimedia Commons
Asparagaceae

Pineapple Flower

Eucomis comosa

Hospitality, abundance, and tropical flair.

Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Eucomis
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Summer
Type
bulbous perennial
Height
40–70 cm
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
rich, well-drained
Water
moderate during growth; dry in dormancy
Hardiness
6–10
Lifespan
perennial bulb; many years

Did you know

  • The flower spike is crowned with a tuft of leaf-like bracts that gives it an uncanny pineapple silhouette.
  • Eucomis means 'beautiful hair' in Greek, referring to that leafy topknot.
  • The flowers emit a faintly musky scent that attracts carrion flies and wasps for pollination.
  • In its native South Africa, Zulu traditional healers use the bulb to treat a range of ailments from colic to fevers.
  • Eucomis bulbs multiply readily, and a single bulb can produce a substantial clump within three to four years.

Color meanings

Green

prosperity and vitality

Purple

regal welcome

Uses

  • ornamental gardens
  • containers
  • architectural planting
  • cut flowers