Pineapple Ananas comosus
Previously known as:
- Ananas sativus
- Phonetic Spelling
- ah-NAH-nas kom-OH-sus
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Pineapple is grown in tropical climates where the best fruit production is achieved. After bananas and citrus, pineapples are the 3rd most cultivated tropical fruit. Most pineapple grown for consumption is of the 'Cayenne' or 'Smooth Cayenne' variety.
Pineapples are short-lived perennial monocots that can grow 2-4’ tall and have spiky, thick long leaves that form a tight rosette. The plant prefers 68-86 degree temperatures for optimum growth. In more temperate areas, pineapples can be an attractive houseplant grown indoors in potted containers or as an outdoor ornamental plant but require an environment that can be kept at least 65 degrees, consistently moist acidic soil, bright, indirect sun, and high humidity. Pineapple has a shallow root system so a 3-7 gallon pot is adequate for container growth.
At least 25 normal sized leaves are needed to flower and produce fruit which may take several years to achieve. When not grown in optimal conditions, the fruit produced may not be as large or tasty. The plant is drought tolerant but prone to root rot if kept too wet. Does not tolerate frost and the fruit is sensitive to sunburn.
Pineapple is propagated asexually from fruit crown, suckers, slips, or hapas.
- Fruit crown is the top of the pineapple fruit. Cut it off about an inch below the leaf cluster. Trim away the outer fruit portion and a few of the basal leaves leaving some of the inner core. Allow the wound moisture to dry up for a week to discourage rotting. Plant in moist, well-drained soil with bright, indirect light. This is the slowest method of growing a pineapple fruit and can take at least 24 months to flower but the preferred method in Hawaii.
- Suckers grow between the leaves of a mature pineapple plant. These can be pulled or snapped off, air-dried, and planted.
- Slips are similar to suckers but they grow out and then curve upward from the fruit stalk at the base of the fruit. The popular variety ‘Smooth Cayenne’ produces few if any slips. These can be easily pulled off the plant, air-dried, and planted.
- Hapas are straighter than slips at the base of the peduncle. These can be easily pulled off the plant, air-dried, and planted.
Bromelain content of pineapple fruit aids digestion but may cause contact dermatitis in some people or mouth and throat irritation if ingested in large quantities.
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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- 'Pernambuco'
pale yellow to white flesh, small slender fruits - 'Queen'
spiny, swarf, compact, more cold/disease resistant - 'Red Spanish'
spiny leaves, squarish shape making it easier to ship, fibrous - 'Smooth Cayenne'
no spines except at leaf tip, high sugar and acid content
var. variegatus
variegated leaves - 'Pernambuco'
- 'Pernambuco', 'Queen', 'Red Spanish', 'Smooth Cayenne', var. variegatus
- Tags:
















- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Pernambuco'
pale yellow to white flesh, small slender fruits - 'Queen'
spiny, swarf, compact, more cold/disease resistant - 'Red Spanish'
spiny leaves, squarish shape making it easier to ship, fibrous - 'Smooth Cayenne'
no spines except at leaf tip, high sugar and acid content
var. variegatus
variegated leaves - 'Pernambuco'
- 'Pernambuco', 'Queen', 'Red Spanish', 'Smooth Cayenne', var. variegatus
- Tags:
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-
Attributes:
- Genus:
- Ananas
- Species:
- comosus
- Family:
- Bromeliaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Pineapple bran and by-products of pineapple processing have been used in livestock feed. Bromelain extracted from pineapple may be used as a meat tenderizer. The stems and leaves are a source of fiber and can be processed into paper or 'pina cloth'.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Stem Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil, Tropical South America
- Distribution:
- Widely grown in Asia, South America, South Africa, Hawaii, Southern Florida
- Edibility:
- Sweet, succulent, aromatic mature fruit edible raw, cooked or preserved.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 2 ft. 0 in. - 4 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 3 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- 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 pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- 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
- 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. Oval, fleshy fruit when mature can be 12" long and weigh up to 6-8 pounds.
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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. An inflorescence is on a stalk up to 20" long. Each flower is made up of 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens typical of monocots.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Green
- Red/Burgundy
- Variegated
- Leaf Feel:
- Prickly
- Smooth
- 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:
- This plant has basal, erect, stiff, sharp-pointed and spiny-margined leaves. Smooth leaf margin and variegated varieties are available.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Very short, thick stem.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Houseplants
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Specimen
- Resistance To Challenges:
- 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