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Pineapple Lily Eucomis comosa

Other Common Name(s):

Other plants called Pineapple Lily:

Previously known as:

  • Asphodelus comosus
  • Eucomis punctata
Phonetic Spelling
YOO-kom-iss kom-OH-sah
Description

This summer bulb in the Asparagaceae (asparagus) family is native to south Africa. It provides an attractive summer blooming pollinator plant that attracts bees and butterflies. Prior to blooming, a vertical stalk of green bracts with a top of of short leaves looks similar to a pineapple, hence one of its common names. Flowers bloom bottom to top, from the bracts, over a 6-8 week period during the latter half of summer beginning in July.  Purplish seeds appear after the flowers die out and remain on the stalk, prolonging the plant's ornamental value. Color varies by the cultivar or variety.

It prefers a well-watered but well-drained organically rich soil.  Keep the soil moist but not wet or soggy during flowering. This bulb can be long-lived.  Plant this bulb 8" (20 cm) deep, spacing bulbs 6-12 in. (15 cm) apart; one per 6-in. pot.  If grown in cooler areas, locate the bulb in a more protected location, planting the bulbs 4-5" deep and, in the fall, cover the bulbs with a thick layer of mulch. These bulbs grow well in containers, with the tips of the bulbs at the soil surface. Again, mulch in the fall. In zone 6 containers and any bulbs in the ground may need to be moved and stored in a protected area for overwintering.

See this plant in the following landscape:
Cultivars / Varieties:
E. bicolor, E. bicolor 'Alba' , E. comosus , E. punctata , 'Sparkling Burgundy'
Tags:
#showy flowers#nectar plant#low maintenance#summer bulbs#pollinator plant#HS302#bee friendly#container plant#patio#wildlife friendly
 
Cultivars / Varieties:
E. bicolor, E. bicolor 'Alba' , E. comosus , E. punctata , 'Sparkling Burgundy'
Tags:
#showy flowers#nectar plant#low maintenance#summer bulbs#pollinator plant#HS302#bee friendly#container plant#patio#wildlife friendly
  • Attributes:
    Genus:
    Eucomis
    Species:
    comosa
    Family:
    Asparagaceae
    Life Cycle:
    Bulb
    Country Or Region Of Origin:
    East Cape Prov. to KwaZulu-Natal
    Wildlife Value:
    This is a great pollinator plant, the nectar attracts bees and butterflies.
    Bulb Storage:
    Store bulbs dry at 55-68 degrees F (13-20 degrees C) in Zone 6. Hardy in Zones 7-8
    Dimensions:
    Height: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
    Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
  • Whole Plant Traits:
    Plant Type:
    Bulb
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Growth Rate:
    Medium
    Maintenance:
    Low
    Medium
  • 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)
    Soil Drainage:
    Good Drainage
    Available Space To Plant:
    12 inches-3 feet
    USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
    7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
  • Fruit:
    Fruit Color:
    Purple/Lavender
    Fruit Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Display/Harvest Time:
    Fall
    Summer
    Fruit Type:
    Berry
    Fruit Description:
    Fleshy, indehiscent; a berry
  • Flowers:
    Flower Color:
    Gold/Yellow
    Green
    Pink
    Purple/Lavender
    White
    Flower Inflorescence:
    Raceme
    Spike
    Flower Value To Gardener:
    Showy
    Flower Bloom Time:
    Summer
    Flower Description:
    tiny, star-like, greenish-white flowers tinged with purple. Flowers appear in a dense cylindrical raceme from July-August. These blooms surround a a purple spotted 2' tall spike topped with greenish leaf-like bracts
  • Leaves:
    Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
    Deciduous
    Leaf Color:
    Green
    Purple/Lavender
    Leaf Type:
    Simple
    Leaf Arrangement:
    Other/more complex
    Leaf Shape:
    Lanceolate
    Leaf Margin:
    Entire
    Undulate
    Hairs Present:
    No
    Leaf Description:
    basal rosette of strap-shaped, linear, wavy-edged, purple-spotted, dark green leaves
  • Stem:
    Stem Color:
    Green
    Stem Is Aromatic:
    No
  • Landscape:
    Landscape Location:
    Container
    Patio
    Landscape Theme:
    Pollinator Garden
    Design Feature:
    Border
    Attracts:
    Bees
    Pollinators
    Specialized Bees