The unusual-looking flowers resemble their namesake fruit.
There are more than 10 species ofEucomiswith new hybrids becoming available every year.
Above the flowers at the top of the flower spike sits a pineapple-like tuft of small leaves.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The leaves are wide and strappy.
Count on pineapple lily to bloom for six weeks or more in summer.
After the bloom, the flowers turn into showy seed capsules.
Credit: Denny Schrock
The flower spikes make good cut flowers with a vase life of more than three weeks.
Pineapple lily grows well in both the landscape and in containers.
In terms of soil and pH, the plants are adaptable but excellent drainage is essential.
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
Flower borders are fine too if the soil drains well.
How and When to Plant Pineapple Lily
When selecting bulbs, size matterslarger bulbs produce larger plants.
Space the bulbs about 6 inches apart.
Mulch the planting area and keep it evenly moist but not wet.
Fertile soil with apH between 5.5 and 7.5is ideal but pineapple lily also adapt to less nutrient-rich soil.
In colder zones, dig up in-ground or containerized bulbs in the fall beforeyour area’s first frost.
Fertilizer
In the spring when the plants start to grow, apply a complete balanced fertilizer.
Yellow, dead or diseased leaves and stems, on the other hand, should be removed promptly.
At the end of the season, dont prune the foliage, instead, let it die back naturally.
Potting and Repotting Pineapple Lily
Pineapple lily is a cinch to grow in a container.
ensure the pot has good drainage holes and use coarse, well-draining potting mix.
Plant one bulb in a 5- to 6-inch pot or three to five bulbs in a 12-inch pot.
Fill the container to the top so the bulbs are fully covered with soil.
When the bulbs have filled the pot, repot the plant to a larger pot or divide it.
Pineapple lily grown as annuals wont need repotting.
The plant is resistant to deer and rabbits.
In the early spring, carefully dig up the entire clump.
Wash the soil off with a hose and break them apart or use a sharp knife to separate them.
Replant the bulbs at the same depth as the original plant.
Note that some cultivars of pineapple lily areprotected by a plant patentand may not be propagated in any form.
Its burgundy-maroon buds open to raspberry-pink flowers.
It blooms in midsummer, several weeks earlier than other pineapple lilies.
It grows 2 feet tall.
The star-shaped flowers are a blush pink when they open, then turn a deep mauve.
The extremely vigorous plants thrive in full sun, both in garden beds and containers.
Angelonia
Also called summer snapdragon,angeloniais a spectacular addition for continuous color in any garden.
A warm-climate perennial or annual, angelonia stands up against summer’s heat and humidity with no problem.
Most angelonia plants grow upright with spires of flowers and deep green, glossy foliage.
The plants usually don’t grow more than 1 foot tall so they wont tower even over shorter neighbors.
Typically used as spillers in containers, they also make fantastic groundcovers.
If you live in Zone 7 or above, simply leave the bulbs in the ground over the winter.
After the first frost, dig up the bulbs yet keep the foliage attached.
Remove the dead foliage and store the bulbs at 45 to 50 degrees F in a dry location.
Replant the bulbs the next spring after the last spring frost.
In cooler climates, bring potted pineapple lilies indoors for the winter.
