The Eucomis, or pineapple flower, is a pretty bulbous plant from South Africa, which brings a lot of joy and happiness in summer. Commonly referred to as “Pineapple Flower,” it has a playful, somewhat strange side, with inflorescences in the shape of a pineapple. More often than not, you cannot find this plant in gardens. It has everything to stir up your curiosity! Although it is easy to live with, the plant is mostly unknown and not often cultivated.
In gardens, we find the species Eucomis bicolor, comosa, and autumnalis, as well as some other varieties. Eucomis are original by the shape of their inflorescences, by their colors (for example, greenish, pale yellow or purple, actually mixing several shades), and by their foliage, especially when they are purple. Eucomis can be found in nature, especially in wet meadows, on the banks of rivers, or on edge forests.
Today, in this article, we are going to discover some useful tips for planting pineapple flower and cover the following:
* Botanical description
* Main features
* Where to plant?
* When and how to plant?
* Care and maintenance
* Propagation
* Association
Botanical Description
Eucomis belongs to the family of Asparagaceae, previously classified as Liliaceae. Etymologically, the name Eucomis comes from the Greek ‘eu’ which stands for “good” and ‘kome,’ which means “hair.” In other words, it could be translated as “beautiful hair,” referring to the tuft of bracts that covers the inflorescence.
The Eucomis generally measures between 30 and 70 cm in height. The Eucomis vandermerwei species is much smaller, not exceeding 15-20 cm in height, while the Eucomis pole-evansii can reach 1.80 m in flowering.
The Eucomis forms tufts of leaves, from which an upright flower stem emerges. The stem is hollow, thick, and fleshy, often speckled with purple.
Eucomis blooms in mid to late summer, around September, and sometimes as early as July. Flowering lasts quite a long time, between several weeks and three months. The flowers have a slightly unpleasant smell to attract the flies that pollinate them.
Main Features
Floral stems emerge in the center of leaves. The Eucomis has a beautiful, upright, unbranched flower, between 10 and 30 cm long. The inflorescences are composed of a large number of small, densely packed star-shaped flowers. The flowers are massive, voluminous, with a very straight, robust, and thick flower stalk.
The spikes are rather beautiful and elongated in Eucomis comosa. They are much shorter in Eucomis vandermerwei. A flower spike usually has between 100 and 130 flowers, which open from the bottom to the top.
Each flower is between 1 and 3 cm in diameter and consists of six tepals (sepals or undifferentiated petals), fused at the base, which surround six stamens.
The leaves are often green, but in some varieties, they also have purple shades. The leaves are deciduous. The plant disappears entirely at the end of autumn and reappears in spring.
Where to Plant?
Plant the Eucomis, preferably in full sun, possibly in semi-shade. Eucomis with colorful foliage, such as ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ Eucomis, take on more beautiful colors in the sun.
The substrate must be well-drained to prevent the bulb from rotting due to excess moisture. Do not hesitate to increase drainage with coarse sand or small gravel before planting. Eucomis nevertheless appreciate the land that remains cool during the growing season, especially in summer. Protect the eucomis from the wind.
Eucomis are rather greedy plants. They like soils rich in organic matter. Plant them in light and loose dirt, deep enough. Eucomis can also be grown in pots, but are also ideal for integrating into beds with other perennials. They are also suitable for border planting, for example, to underline an aisle.
When and How to Plant?
We advise you to plant Eucomis in spring, around April or May, as soon as there is no longer any risk of frost. In milder regions where there is no cold, you can plant them from February onwards.
You can plant Eucomis deeply in around 15 or 20 cm below ground level. It can provide extra protection against the cold. Eucomis should preferably be planted in groups of at least three or five bulbs, about 30 cm apart each time.
First, start by working on the soil. Bring in compost or well-decomposed manure, coarse sand or gravel to improve drainage, and possibly some topsoil. Second, dig a hole about 20 centimeters deep. Later, plant the bulb, and the tip should be pointing upwards. Finally, do not forget to water generously.
Care and Maintenance
The substrate must remain fresh, and you should water regularly in the summer (up to twice a week, letting the substrate dry between each watering).
Reduce watering in winter, as the plant is dormant and the bulb may rot. In pots, watering should be a little more regular than in the open ground, as the substrate dries faster. However, be careful not to leave standing water in the coaster.
Eucomis can appreciate a supply of well-decomposed compost in the spring. You can place it at its feet, around the clump, and lightly scratch the soil to combine it into the surface.
If you grow potted eucomis, you can add a little liquid fertilizer every two to three weeks, or put some compost on the surface in the spring and include it lightly. This can encourage beautiful flowering. We advise you to divide them from time to time to regenerate the clumps.
Propagation
Eucomis can be multiplied by sowing, cutting leaves, or dividing. Eucomis are relatively easy to multiply by sowing. You can preferably do it in spring, around April or May.
You can cut eucomis from leaf segments. Preferably use a sharp, disinfected knife. You can divide your eucomis in early spring, every three to four years. This can give your plants renewed vigor.
Association
Eucomis goes wonderfully with other exotic plants! Plant it with agapanthus, crocosmias, cordylines, and phormiums. Combine the surprising flowers of kniphofias with the original look of eucomis! Add large and voluminous foliage (banana trees, palm trees, tree ferns)
You can also plant the eucomis in a perennial bed, for example, with warm-toned flowers such as dahlias, crocosmias, coreopsis, or echinacea. You can also enjoy the beautiful, very luminous flowering of Acidanthera or Abyssinian Gladiola.
Eucomis, also known as pineapple flower, is a bulbous plant that offers an extraordinary and exotic flowering. The hues of the flowers are both soft and warm! The luxuriant foliage sometimes takes on beautiful purple colors. The plant has a fascinating look that is rather easy to grow and multiply! It requires a draining, warm, and sunny location.