PINEAPPLE LILIES!

EUCOMIS ARE A SWEET SUMMER FEAST FOR THE EYES

- MEGHAN SHINN

The source of a plant's common name isn't always obvious, but in Eucomis it's impossible to miss. Known colloquially as pineapple lilies, these strappy-leaved South African bulbs bloom with a flower plainly reminiscent of a certain tropical fruit. Demanding little in both care and space, they make a fun conversation piece in the summer garden and prove worthy of winter storage where they're not hardy.

In summer, the bulb puts up a thick scape topped with a dense raceme of buds that open to reveal small white, greenish or purple flowers. These open along the stem from bottom to top. In full bloom, the raceme resembles the textured rind of a pineapple, thanks to the flowers' star shape. A tuft of green leaves top the flower structure, mimicking a pineapple's crown.The pineapple lily's generous bloom period can cover six to eight weeks, often beginning in midsummer. Prior to that, this plant lends interest with its foliage. The leaves form a dense rosette, usually about a foot tall and spanning one to three feet wide. (As with flower color, precise dimensions depend on species and cultivar.) Individual leaves are long and straplike, with an upright posture and arching outward toward the tip. Their slightly crimped edges add an interesting texture, and the leaf color ranges from bright green to wine red. Some varieties show purple speckling on lime-hued leaves.

GROWING NOTES