Pineapple lilies are bulbous perennials that basically stand out from different flowers. They’ve attractive inexperienced to white bracts that stand on tall racemes. As their frequent identify suggests, these lilies truly seem like cartoonish pineapples. These beautiful flowers bloom in the summertime and hold their pineapple-like blooms for at the least 2 months. The flowers will carry a contact of the tropics to your backyard.
Plant them together with different tropical-looking flowers or as standalone showpieces. Some species can develop to round 3 ft tall. Due to their top and distinctive form, they’ll seize lots of consideration.
Let’s dive into tips on how to plant, develop, and care for these enticing tropical bulbs. They’re simple to develop and preserve, making them excellent newbie flowers.
Pineapple Lily Overview
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What Is It?
Pineapple lilies haven’t any relation to pineapples or lilies. Opposite to their identify, they’re truly members of the Asparagaceae Household of vegetation. These embrace asparagus, lily-of-the-valley, and snake plant.
These flowers are members of the Eucomis genus, which will get its identify from the phrase ‘Eukomos’ which implies “fantastically haired” in Greek. There are round 13 species within the genus, every with distinctive sizes and colours.
These vegetation look wonderful as backyard centerpieces or alongside borders. You’ll often get your first blooms in summer season, which may final into fall. They give the impression of being attractive surrounded by inexperienced floor cowl and different tropical-looking vegetation.
Traits
Pineapple lilies develop from bulbs that shoot out tall racemes of their facilities. The flowers are extremely stunning. They could be a number of colours, together with white, inexperienced, pink, purple, or cream coloured.
As they mature, they ship up tall stalks often called racemes. These flower clusters help a number of flower clusters that develop on uniform stalks. On the high of the racemes are bracts that resemble the highest leaves of a pineapple. Some species give off a perfume just like cooked potatoes.
The leaves are lengthy and type a rosette round a central stem. Most cultivars have inexperienced to darkish inexperienced leaves, whereas some produce stunning purple leaves.
Some species are miniature and barely attain 8 inches in top. Others can develop to three ft. You’ll be able to plant a number of species in your flower backyard for a multitextured look. The tallest varieties look wonderful within the middle of a minimize backyard whereas miniature varieties make unbelievable borders.
Native Space
Eucomis vegetation are native to sub-tropical South Africa. Many species develop wild all through southern Africa. They develop in low-lying areas and grasslands.
These species thrive as perennials in heat climates between zones 7 to 10. They will deal with some winter chilly however choose heat temperatures year-round.
These vegetation develop greatest in considerably rocky areas with a variety of soil sorts. Due to this, they’ll thrive in lots of areas of the US.
Planting
These bulbs are extremely simple to plant. Begin by selecting wholesome bulbs that really feel heavy and look massive. They need to really feel dense and have good coloration with none blemishes or cuts. Sometimes, the bigger the bulbs are, the more healthy and extra colourful their flowers can be.
Plant them root aspect down within the springtime after the final menace of frost has handed. One of the best soil temperature is at or above 65°F (18°C). Place the bulbs upright in free, well-drained loamy soil as much as 6 inches deep. You can too begin them indoors earlier within the 12 months in containers like these and transplant them when the climate warms.
Intention for a spot with full solar or partial shade. These flowers love areas with slightly afternoon shade to protect them, particularly in hotter areas.
House every bulb about 6 inches aside to give them sufficient room to develop and never overcrowd one another. After planting, give them a great soaking and hold the soil evenly moist as they develop.
Transplanting
Transplanting pineapple lilies could be very simple. In case you’re rising your vegetation in a container, give them a wholesome watering earlier than transplanting. Gently take away them from their containers with out damaging their root system.
Dig a gap that’s round twice as vast as your transplants. Preserve their depth equal to their root balls. Make sure that their crowns are degree with the soil and thoroughly cowl the roots with well-drained soil. Give them a great watering and hold the soil moist as they develop.
It helps to amend the soil forward of time with wealthy, natural compost. This could assist the vegetation soak up sufficient vitamins to provide large, stunning blooms. After just a few weeks, you must see wholesome new development.
Tips on how to Develop
In case you’re a beginner gardener or an knowledgeable on the lookout for one thing simple, you’re in luck. Pineapple lilies are extremely simple to develop and preserve. With only a few easy upkeep duties, they’ll thrive for a number of seasons.
These vegetation develop properly in beds or containers. They’ll work particularly properly in rock gardens or the sides of pathways.
Mild
These perennial bulbs love areas with full solar or partial shade. In sizzling climates, they reply properly to afternoon shade.
If in case you have milder summers, plant your bulbs in areas with full solar to yield the very best outcomes. Keep away from planting them in full shade if you would like wholesome blooms. These vegetation will barely flower in low-sunlight situations.
Water
Give your pineapple lilies a good soaking as soon as the highest layer of soil turns into dry. Be sure to don’t overwater your bulbs, or they might succumb to root rot.
In case you’re overwintering your bulbs, cease watering them within the fall. They’ll naturally dry out and go dormant throughout this time.
Soil
Plant your bulbs in well-drained, wealthy, loamy soil. Add small stones and different supplies to enhance drainage and coarseness.
Amend the soil with loads of natural compost. Domesticate a wholesome ecosystem of worms and different useful bugs. In case you’re not utilizing rocks to assist the soil retain moisture and shield its inner biome, add a layer of mulch round your vegetation.
Temperature and Humidity
Pineapple lilies won’t tolerate cool or chilly temperatures. It’s essential to attend till the soil is at the least 65°F (18°C) to plant them.
As soon as the climate and soil keep above 65°F (18°C), your vegetation will begin producing new development. These flowers will deal with excessive or low humidity, so you possibly can develop them virtually anyplace within the US.
These vegetation will develop as perennials in zones 7 by means of 10. In case you dwell in areas beneath zone 7, you’ll need to overwinter your bulbs within the fall.
Fertilizing
After planting, give your vegetation a lightweight quantity of balanced natural flower fertilizer each few weeks throughout the rising season. Make sure that the plant meals doesn’t contact the crown or leaves.
Cease fertilizing within the late summer season or early fall after the vegetation cease blooming. This can assist them put together for winter dormancy.
Upkeep
Apart from their enticing pineapple-like blooms and placing foliage, you’ll love the hands-free nature of those vegetation. Merely sustain with their watering and fertilizing, and they need to thrive.
In case you dwell in zones 7 and above, cease fertilizing and watering your vegetation within the fall after they bloom. Depart the bulbs within the soil and let the foliage naturally die again. In case you anticipate to have chilly snaps or heavy freezes, add an additional layer of mulch above your bulbs.
In northern zones colder than zone 7, you’ll need to deal with your bulbs as annuals and discard them. Or, dig them up fastidiously and retailer them in a cool, dry place over winter.
To do that, take away the flower stalk and let the leaves proceed to die off naturally. Dig your bulbs up after the primary frost and go away them in a heat, protected space till they dry out. Take away the useless foliage and retailer the bulbs in a darkish place between 40 to 50°F. Plant your overwintered bulbs once more in spring.
Propagation
The easiest way to propagate your pineapple lilies is to harvest offsets within the spring. Search for the small bulbs forming on the base of the guardian bulbs.
You’ll be able to gently take away the offsets and plant them as you’d a guardian bulb. Preserve them as you’d the guardian bulbs and luxuriate in brand-new pineapple lilies in your backyard.
Cuttings
In case you’re up for a problem, you possibly can attempt propagating your bulbs through leaf cuttings. Through the center of the summer season, give your vegetation a great soaking. With clear pruners like these, minimize a big and wholesome leaf at its base.
Reduce the leaf horizontally and dip the ends in a rooting hormone. This can assist encourage the leaf to provide new development and roots when planted within the soil.
Place the cuttings in a container with well-drained soil amended with loads of natural compost. Preserve the soil moist however not soggy, and make sure the container is in an space with brilliant oblique gentle. After just a few weeks, gently pull on the leaves to see in the event that they’re creating roots. Harden them off after they’re prepared for transplanting outdoor.
Well-liked Varieties
There are dozens of fashionable species and cultivars of pineapple lilies to search for. Beneath are just a few great decisions in your backyard.
Eucomis bicolor ‘Gerandete’
‘Gerandate’ cultivars develop to a top of round 2 ft. They’ve greenish-white flowers with delicate purple trim.
Eucomis vandermerwei ‘Octopus’
Eucomis vandermerwei ‘Octopus’ is a lovely dwarf selection that stays underneath a foot excessive. It has darkish purple to crimson flowers and lengthy purple noticed leaves.
Eucomis comosa ‘Glowing Burgundy’
‘Glowing Burgundy’ varieties are initially from the wetlands of southern Africa. They will develop to three ft and placed on radiant pink flowers.
Eucomis autumnalis
Eucomis autumnalis produces beautiful white flowers that bloom from mid-summer into early fall. They will attain as much as 2 ft tall and look wonderful as border plantings.
Widespread Issues
These easy-to-maintain flowers have only a few issues. The commonest problem folks have is overwatering. This may trigger drooping, wilting, or yellowing leaves.
Extreme overwatering might trigger root rot in extreme instances. To stop this, solely water your vegetation as soon as the higher inch of soil dries out.
Pests
Pineapple lilies are pretty resilient to pests. Nonetheless, be careful for snails, slugs, and aphids. Aphids are essentially the most severe pest. Look ahead to sticky honeydew on the leaves and spray them away with water.
In additional severe infestations, you possibly can deal with your leaves with a neem oil resolution. This can assist kill the aphids earlier than they unfold.
Ailments
Thankfully, pineapple lilies are not very inclined to many ailments. In case you develop your vegetation in soggy soil or overwater them, they might develop root rot.
Keep away from planting your bulbs in low-lying areas the place extra moisture can develop. Follow a gentle watering schedule.
Regularly Requested Questions
No, in contrast to precise lilies, pineapple lilies will not be thought-about poisonous to animals. Nonetheless, it’s greatest to make use of warning and transfer the vegetation in case your animals wish to chew on them. Your pets might develop gentle abdomen discomfort in the event that they devour massive quantities of leaves and flowers.
These bulbs are hardy to zone 7. In case you dwell in areas beneath zone 7, you’ll need to deal with them as annuals or overwinter their bulbs.
Sure, pineapple lilies are perennials in zones 7 by means of 10. Even in colder zones, they’ll come again every year in the event you retailer their bulbs correctly over winter.
There are a number of explanation why your pineapple lilies are dying. This may very well be from lack of daylight, lack of vitamins, overwatering, or underwatering.
Take note of the way you’re rising your vegetation and make any modifications wanted. You might have to maneuver your vegetation to a sunnier or better-drained location.