Eucomis vandermerwei
van der Merwe pineapple lily
A bulbous perennial producing a rosette of wavy-edged, strap-shaped, dark green leaves, heavily blotched with dark purple-red. The star-shaped, purple flowers are produced in late summer in cylindrical spikes 15cm high, with a cluster of purple-edged, dark green bracts at the top
Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metresTime to ultimate height
2–5 yearsUltimate spread
0.1–0.5 metresGrowing conditions
Moisture
Well–drainedpH
Acid, Alkaline, NeutralColour & scent
| Stem | Flower | Foliage | Fruit | |
| Spring | Green Purple | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | Purple | Green Purple | ||
| Autumn | Green Purple | |||
| Winter |
Position
- Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing or East–facing
Exposure
Sheltered Hardiness
H3Botanical details
- Family
- Asparagaceae
- Native to the UK
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- 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
- N South Africa
How to grow
Cultivation
Best grown in very free-draining compost in a terracotta pot and taken under cover for winter or, in very mild areas, grow in a gravel bed or rockery. See eucomis cultivation
Propagation
Propagate by seed sown in autumn or spring or remove offsets in spring
Suggested planting locations and garden types
- City and courtyard gardens
- Coastal
- Cottage and informal garden
- Gravel garden
- Patio and container plants
- Rock garden
- Sub-tropical
- Conservatory and greenhouse
- Wall side borders
Pruning
No pruning required
Pests
Generally pest-free
Diseases
Generally disease-free
Get involved
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