Variegated Pineapple Ananas comosus 'Variegatus'
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Ananas comosus var. variegatus
- Ananas sativus var. variegatus
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-NAH-nas koh-MOH-sus vair-ee-ah-GAY-tus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Variegated pineapple is a native to the tropical Americas. It is a member of the pineapple family (Bromeliaceae).
It has striking spiky strap-like variegated leaves. In frost-free locations, it can be grown outdoors as a specimen or accent plant. Otherwise, it needs to be planted in a container and moved indoors for the winter or grown as a houseplant. It does produce an edible fruit, but the fruit lacks the sweet taste of cultivated pineapples grown in optimal conditions.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Pineapple can be affected by wilt and root rot. Mealybugs, scale, thrips, and nematodes can also be issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ananas
- Species:
- comosus
- Family:
- Bromeliaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil, Tropical South America
- Edibility:
- Fruits are edible but not particularly tasty.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 3 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Houseplant
- Perennial
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Slow
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The inflorescence is fused into a seedless syncarp formed by 100-200 individual spiral flowers to form the fruit. When the fruit is ripe it generates a waxy, tough outer rind made up of hexagonal shaped units that change from green to yellow or slightly brown as it ripens.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are in an erect, tight cluster. Each flower is made up of 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens typical of monocots.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- White
- Leaf Feel:
- Leathery
- Prickly
- Smooth
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Linear
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are grey to green, variegated lengthwise with yellow to white stripes tinged with pinkish-red along the spiny margins. The reddish colors are more pronounced when grown in bright light.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Very small, if any stem. Most leaves emerge directly from the soil.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Humidity
- Problems:
- Contact Dermatitis
- Problem for Children
- Spines/Thorns
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Mild skin irritation from contact with juice; mechanical damage from sharp-pointed, spiny leaves; irritation to the eyes from splashed juice; irritation of mouth, lips, and tongue from ingesting fruit. Throat irritation and strong laxative effect from ingestion of large quantities of RAW pineapple and/or sap from leaves; digestive tract benzoars from excessive consumption of pineapple cores.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Bromelin, ethyl acrylate, and calcium oxalate crystals
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- Yes
- Poison Part:
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Sap/Juice
