Eucomis comosa
pineapple lily
A bulbous, clump-forming perennial of long, wavy-margined pale green leaves, purple-spotted beneath, with stout, purple-striped, pale green stems to 75cm tall, bearing dense, spike-like racemes to 30cm long, composed of white flowers with purple margins and topped by a rosette of small bracts
Size
Ultimate height
0.5–1 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Moist but well–drained, Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Green White | Green | ||
| Autumn | Green White | Green | ||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H4Botanical details
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming, Tufted
- Genus
Eucomis are bulbous perennials forming a large basal rosette of strap-shaped leaves, with an erect stem bearing a dense raceme of star-shaped flowers, topped by a crown of leafy bracts, opening in late summer and early autumn
- Name status
Correct
- Plant range
- E South Africa
How to grow
Cultivation
Plant 15cm deep in fertile, humus-rich, well-drained soil in a sheltered position in full sun. Mulch well in colder areas. See eucomis cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed, sown in autumn or spring. Alternatively remove offsets in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Flower borders and beds
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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