Sunday, January 27

Pineapple lily is dramatic, easy-going and irresistible

The delicate, star-like flowers of Eucomis comosa 'Peace Candles' grace a border at Seneca Hill Perennials' display garden. Photo: Betty Earl

E. comosa 'Oakhurst' has a strong red-purple form that provides real impact in the garden. As an added bonus, it produces purple flowers in late summer. Photo: Terra Nova Nurseries

If the exotic or the unusual appeals to you, then the beguiling bulbs called pineapple lilies (Eucomis ssp.) may be just what you're looking for.

Related to neither pineapples nor lilies, but members of the hyacinth family, eucomis get their name from the pineapple-shaped tufts of green, leaf-like bracts that form atop impressive flower spikes. Opening from the bottom up, small densely packed, star-shaped flowers adorn the tall spikes, which emerge from clumps of foliage.

Depending on the species, flower color ranges from greenish-white to bicolor to purple. Cream- or purple-colored ornamental seedpods follow the flowers, extending the show for weeks. In some species the leaves are green, in others, mottled or spotted with purple, or even maroon-purple in color. Some leaf edges may be wavy, others straight. All are thick, tough, and exude a milky sap when cut.

Many people, upon hearing their common name, immediately go and smell the flowers, expecting them to smell of pineapple. The truth is, though pineapple lilies do exude a faint scent, not all of them have a pleasant odor. Some even smell - well - pretty bad, notably Eucomis bicolor, E. montana, and E. humilis. The simple solution is to keep these species away from your nose and admire them from a short distance.

Growing pineapple lilies
Fortunately, pineapple lilies, which hail from South Africa, are very easy to grow, not bothered by pests, and deer and rabbits generally avoid them.

Bulbs emerge late in spring, grow rapidly, and flower for six weeks. Full sun is preferred, but light shade is acceptable. During the heat of summer, it is normal for leaves to "wilt" a bit in the afternoon, but they perk right up again by the next morning.

Semi-hardy to Zones 7/8, pineapple lily bulbs can be grown in containers, or if you choose to plant them out directly in the garden, the bulbs are easily lifted and brought inside for over-wintering. After the first frost in the fall, or when the leaves have died back, I just bring the containers inside and store them, unwatered, in a cool, dark place in the basement. Bulbs can also be stored in brown paper bags or peat moss. In spring, bring out the stored pots, or re-pot bulbs, and start watering. Keep the pots in a well-lit spot indoors until all danger of frost has passed.

The trickiest time of the year for any plant stored in cool, dark places is early spring. Even in a cool basement, plants seem to respond to warming temperatures and lengthening days, and there are always a few eager beavers that will put up new growth way too early in the season. Last spring, I spent two months fretting over one large pot of Eucomis pole-ewasii, which uncharacteristically sent up finger-thick spears in late March and was producing flower stalks way before the weather warmed sufficiently outside. Once outside, though, it was great to have a succession of plants bloom over a really long period. Mother hen that I am, however, I would much rather not go through that again.

For indoor containers, cover the bulbs with a mere one-inch of soil; three- to four-inches for outdoor containers. Keep the soil on the dry side until top growth appears, then move your containers into bright light and begin watering, keeping the soil moist, but not soggy. For best results, repot every three- to four-years. Fertilize weekly with a dilute solution during active growth.

A marvelous cut flower, eucomis stems can stay fresh for weeks. Just be sure to change the water in the vase at least once a week. Photo: Betty Earl

Take your pick
Typically, the only eucomis bulb available in garden centers is the common green-leafed, greenish-flowering pineapple lily. However, these plants have enjoyed a recent surge in popularity that has led to the breeding of numerous hybrids, so with just a little effort, a whole world of bodacious bloomers is available to you. Here are the most commonly-grown species.

Eucomis comosa (syn punctata) -- This, the most common of pineapple lily species, is also the most variable, producing some interesting color forms in both foliage and flower. The sweetly-scented blossoms range from greenish white to pink. Notable hybrids include:

• E. c. 'Sparkling Burgundy' - Sumptuous, semi-erect rosettes of burgundy-red, waxy leaves give rise to burgundy buds opening pale pink.
• E. c. 'Peace Candles' - White with reddish-purple stamens, this three-foot-tall stalk makes an excellent cut flower.
• E. c. 'Toffee' - Buds of light chocolate open pure white.
• E. c. 'Reuben' - Dark purple buds open to cranberry-pink flowers.

Eucomis bicolor -- Maroon to purple-flecked, green stems and purple-edged, pale green blooms.

Eucomis pole-ewansii -- The giant of the eucomis clan, this robust pineapple lily has flowering stems full of fragrant, wide-open greenish flowers. (Three feet in containers; six feet in the ground).

Eucomis humilis -- Broad, purple-rimmed leaves, heavily spotted purple underneath; densely packed greenish-white flowers with purple stamens.

Eucomis montana -- Lustrous, purple-rimmed leaves, and large, greenish-to-white, purple-centered flowers.

Eucomis vandermerwei -- Rare, dwarf pineapple lily with narrow, heavily splotched and patterned leaves and small, deep reddish-purple flowers.

Eucomis autumnalis -- Wavy-edged leaves and pendant, bell-shaped, greenish flowers.

Eucomis zambesiaca -- A real cutie, with erect spikes of green-tinged white flowers.

Just be warned: This botanical eye candy is quite addictive. What you thought was going to be one container of eucomis may soon turn into a vast clan of pineapple lilies inhabiting your garden.

Author of "In Search of Great Plants: The Insider's Guide to the Best Plants in the Midwest," Betty Earl is a Master Gardener, photographer and lecturer. She writes for numerous regional gardening magazines, is a garden scout for both Better Homes & Gardens and Midwest Living magazines and also serves as a regional representative for the Garden Conservancy. She lives and gardens in Naperville.