Plants in genus eucomis
Eucomis montana
Eucomis montana is a unique perennial from the Drakensberg Mountains in South Africa, known for its dense spike of greenish flowers topped with green bracts. This plant features a basal rosette of strap-shaped leaves with purple spots and can grow up to 15 inches tall. It thrives in grasslands on rocky hillsides and is rare in cultivation, potentially offering frost-hardiness. The flowers are pure white with a brown or black central ovary, making it a striking addition to any garden. Eucomis montana is a tetraploid species, meaning it has four sets of chromosomes, and it was first described in 1967. It contains homoisoflavanone in its bulbs, a compound of interest for its potential medicinal properties. This plant is threatened in its native habitat, making conservation efforts important for its survival. It is suitable for gardens that mimic its natural environment, such as rock gardens or dry shade areas.
Eucomis comosa
Eucomis comosa, a bulbous perennial from South Africa, features striking flower spikes that resemble small pineapples, topped with green bracts. Its leaves form a rosette and can grow up to 18 inches long, adding a tropical touch to gardens. The plant emits a pleasant coconut-like scent and is hardy in mild climates with some winter protection.
Eucomis bicolor
Eucomis bicolor, a South African pineapple lily, is known for its pale green, purple-margined flowers arranged in a spike. It grows from a large bulb and features a stout stem with purple markings. This perennial attracts pollinators and is cultivated as a garden and container plant, though it requires winter mulch in colder areas.
Eucomis vandermerwei
Eucomis vandermerwei, also known as the pineapple lily, is a dwarf species native to South Africa. It features ruffled, narrow leaves with purple spots and dark purple, pineapple-like flowers, thriving in well-drained rocky crevices.
Eucomis humilis
Eucomis humilis, a species of pineapple lily, is native to the Drakensberg mountains of South Africa. It is known for its wide leaves with red-purple patterning at the base and white flowers on 18-inch tall scapes in August. This drought-tolerant plant thrives in damp habitats and can be grown outside in mild frost conditions. Eucomis humilis is a short summer-growing bulbous plant, making it a unique addition to rock gardens and water-fed grasslands.
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Bright Pink'
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Bright Pink' is a compact dwarf pineapple lily with dusty purple foliage. It forms a clump about 10 inches tall and 15 inches wide, producing spikes of pink-lavender flowers starting in late June. This plant is a result of crossing Eucomis vandermerwei and Eucomis zambesiaca, making it a unique addition to gardens. Its compact size and colorful blooms make it suitable for various garden settings, including rock gardens and containers.
Eucomis 'Can Can'
Eucomis 'Can Can' is a hybrid with flushed purple leaves and a green leaf rosette. It features 28-inch tall purple spikes of lavender-pink buds and white flowers, followed by purple seed pods. This plant thrives in sunny environments.
Eucomis autumnalis 'Naudes Neck'
Eucomis autumnalis 'Naudes Neck' is a South African plant known for its dense, pineapple-like spikes of bright green flowers. It forms a flat rosette of glossy green leaves and begins flowering in early July. This compact and floriferous plant is attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Cherry Blossom'
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Cherry Blossom' is a compact, fast-growing plant with shiny green, heavily ruffled leaves. It produces 10-inch tall stalks of pure white flowers in late June.
Eucomis 'Tugela Jade'
Eucomis 'Tugela Jade' is a hybrid pineapple lily from South Africa, featuring a rosette of fleshy green leaves and 18-inch tall flower spikes with chartreuse buds that open to pure white flowers. It is named after the Tugela River.
Eucomis 'Reuben'
Eucomis 'Reuben' is a new pineapple lily hybrid from New Zealand, bred for the cut flower trade. It features fleshy green-leaved rosettes and 18-inch tall spikes of dark purple buds that open to cranberry-pink flowers in August. This plant thrives in sunny conditions and is suitable for xeriscaping.
Eucomis 'Oakhurst'
Eucomis 'Oakhurst' is a unique plant with burgundy strap-like foliage and flower heads resembling pineapples. It grows best in full sun and is heat tolerant, producing light purple flowers in mid to late summer. This plant is ideal for container planting and can last up to six weeks in a vase.
Eucomis 'Coco'
Eucomis 'Coco' is a petite, compact plant native to South Africa, known for its deep burgundy flower stalk and pink star-shaped blooms. The fragrant flowers are a great nectar resource and make excellent cut flowers. This perennial thrives in full sun and is a striking addition to any garden.
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Buff'
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Buff' is a compact plant that forms clumps topped with spikes of creamy white flowers in summer. It is drought-tolerant and suitable for sunny locations, making it an excellent choice for rock gardens or as a cut flower. This plant is native to South Africa and adds a unique touch to any garden with its ornamental seed or fruit.
Eucomis 'Twinkle Stars'
Eucomis 'Twinkle Stars' features 16-inch tall rosettes of fleshy green foliage topped with 2-foot tall purple flower spikes. This plant blooms from mid-July, adding a touch of exotic beauty to gardens.
Eucomis 'Dark Star'
Eucomis 'Dark Star' is a dwarf pineapple lily hybrid known for its dark purple, fleshy leaves and pinkish, pineapple-like flowers that bloom in midsummer. It forms a clump about 10 inches tall and 14 inches wide. This plant is drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, and attracts butterflies, making it suitable for various garden settings.
Eucomis 'Meguru'
Eucomis 'Meguru' is a cultivar of the pineapple lily, bred for the cut-flower market. It features upright green foliage and 27-inch tall spikes of greenish white flowers with burgundy ovaries. This plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in sunny conditions.
Eucomis 'Tiny Piny Coral'
Eucomis 'Tiny Piny Coral' is a compact hybrid known for its extremely wavy-edged leaves and 6-inch spikes of pink flowers that bloom starting in July. This plant forms a 6-inch tall by 18-inch wide clump and is drought-tolerant, making it suitable for rock gardens and xeriscaping. It attracts insects and thrives in sunny locations.
Eucomis 'Tugela Ruby'
Eucomis 'Tugela Ruby' is a plant with green leaves heavily flushed with purple and 2-foot tall maroon spikes with ivory flowers. The flowers have a purple center, adding a unique touch to gardens. This plant is drought-tolerant and suitable for sunny locations.
Eucomis zambesiaca
Eucomis zambesiaca, a bulbous plant native to southern Africa, is known for its rosette of fleshy green leaves and striking white flowers. The flowers, which are sweetly scented, appear in a spike and turn green after opening, adding a unique touch to its appearance. This summer-growing plant is frost-hardy in well-drained soil and can be grown in containers. Eucomis zambesiaca is considered one of the most stunning pineapple lilies when in bloom, making it a standout choice for gardeners.
Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'
Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy' is a purple-foliaged pineapple lily that stands out with its dark burgundy leaves and unique bloom stalk resembling a miniature purple pineapple. Growing up to 2 feet tall, this plant blooms in late summer and is easy to grow, tolerating a wide range of garden conditions.
Eucomis 'Kilimanjaro'
Eucomis 'Kilimanjaro' is a hybrid plant known for its striking rosettes of 2-foot long strap-shaped green leaves and 3-foot tall spikes of creamy white flowers with pink centers. This plant is a cross between Eucomis comosa and Eucomis pallidiflora, making it a unique addition to gardens. It thrives in sunny locations and is suitable for use in bog gardens and rain gardens. Eucomis 'Kilimanjaro' attracts insects and adds a tropical look to landscapes.
Eucomis 'Katie'
Eucomis 'Katie' is an Eddie Welsh hybrid with a green-leaved rosette and 2-foot-tall dark purple spikes of purple buds. It features light pink flowers and re-flowers in the fall, with dark purple seed pods on old stalks. This plant is suitable for sun perennials and adds a unique touch to gardens with its bold foliage and blooms.
Eucomis 'Freckles'
Eucomis 'Freckles' is a hybrid plant with dark green leaves speckled with purple. It forms a 10-inch tall by 14-inch wide clump and produces 10-inch tall spikes of dark purple flowers in July. This plant is ideal for specimen or mass planting.
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Pink'
Eucomis 'Mini Tuft Pink' is a compact plant with dusty purple foliage and 10-inch flower spikes that transition from cream to dark cerise-pink. It blooms in late June and is known for its fast-multiplying clumps, making it suitable for rock gardens.
Eucomis amaryllidifolia
Eucomis amaryllidifolia, native to the Cape Provinces, is a summer-flowering bulbous plant with thick, glossy green leaves. Its flower stalk resembles a miniature pineapple, topped with a dense spike of yellowish-green flowers. This plant is hardy down to 23°F and thrives in rocky slopes and ridges.
Eucomis comosa 'Toffee'
Eucomis comosa 'Toffee' is a deciduous rosette with fleshy green foliage that emerges bronze. It features 20-inch tall flower spikes with light chocolate buds that open to pure white, and seed pods that turn purple. This plant is suitable for sun-filled gardens and is known for its unique color transitions.
Eucomis 'Tugela Gem'
Eucomis 'Tugela Gem' is a hybrid pineapple lily from New Zealand, forming a rosette of rippled-edged, fleshy green leaves. It features 28-inch tall spikes with rosy pink flowers in July, and its seed pods turn dark purple.
Eucomis 'Tugela Jewel'
Eucomis 'Tugela Jewel' is a compact plant with purple foliage that ages to green with a purple blushed edge. It produces 16-inch tall flower spikes with pink flowers that darken as they age, blooming in August. This plant is drought-tolerant and thrives in sunny locations, making it a great choice for rock gardens and cut flower arrangements.