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Red Pineapple Flower Wikimedia Commons
Asparagaceae

Red Pineapple Flower

Eucomis comosa

Exotic individuality and tropical charm.

Family
Asparagaceae
Genus
Eucomis
Native to
South Africa
Bloom season
Summer, Early Autumn
Type
bulbous perennial
Height
30–60 cm
Sunlight
full sun to part shade
Soil
fertile, moist, well-drained
Water
medium; reduce in winter
Hardiness
6–10
Lifespan
long-lived perennial

Did you know

  • The flower spike is topped by a rosette of leaf-like bracts that makes it look like a miniature pineapple.
  • The genus name Eucomis comes from Greek 'eu' (good) and 'kome' (hair), referring to the leafy topknot.
  • The flowers have an unusual musky fragrance that attracts flies and wasps as pollinators, not bees.
  • Red-leaved cultivars like 'Sparkling Burgundy' get their color from high anthocyanin levels in the foliage.
  • After flowering, the seed pods swell and turn the spike into a decorative structure that lasts for months.

Color meanings

Purple-Red

bold uniqueness

Uses

  • ornamental borders
  • container planting
  • cut flowers
  • dried arrangements