The Gorgeous Tropical Perennial Bulb With Blooms That Resemble A Pineapple

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If you are an avid gardener, chances are you are always looking for something unique to grow in your garden. You want plants that turn heads and encourage questions. This is exactly where pineapple lily (Eucomis spp.) can help. This showy tropical perennial from the asparagus family is well-known for its blooms that appear from summer to fall. The clusters of star-shaped flowers with leafy bracts at the top grow on a thick, tubular spike, giving them a pineapple-like appearance.

The pineapple lily is not a single plant. Rather, it is a genus of 13 species, each with varying flower colors. What they all share, however, is their large, strap-like leaves — the foliage is responsible for the plants' distinctive tropical look. Pineapple lilies are rabbit- and deer-resistant bulbs that will bring bees and butterflies to your garden. Furthermore, they are easy to grow, thriving in a range of conditions.

Of course, these lilies aren't without their problems. For starters, they are beautiful plants that could be causing an awful smell in your yard. The odor, which resembles that of boiled potatoes, is produced by the flowers and is highly attractive to wasps. If you have a sensitive nose and aren't a fan of wasps in the garden, pineapple lily may not be the right choice. Another reason to reconsider pineapple lilies is that they only thrive in USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7 to 10. If you live outside these zones, you may need to swap this lily for other statement blooms that add a colorful accent to your yard.

To grow a pineapple lily in your yard, choose a sunny spot with well-drained, moist, and organically rich soil. While pineapple lily will grow in part shade, it performs best in full sun. You can grow the tropical perennial from bulbs — spring is the best time to plant them. Bury the bulbs 3 to 6 inches deep and 5 to 10 inches apart. If you want a more portable solution or don't have an in-ground garden, you can also grow pineapple lilies in containers.

Growing these heat-loving plants in containers is a boon for gardeners in colder regions. You can move your pineapple lilies indoors when temperatures drop. Which material is best for your plant pots: ceramic or plastic? In fact, any material will do, as long as the planter is shallow and wide with lots of drainage holes. Depending on the species, a pineapple lily will grow 10 to 30 inches tall. Expect your plant to take a few years to reach full size.

This genus probably isn't the right choice if you're looking for fast-growing flowers that bring color to a container garden or garden bed. On the bright side, pineapple lilies are relatively trouble-free once established. All you have to do is keep the soil moist, apply some plant food, like TPS Nutrients Liquid Bulb Fertilizer, twice a month while the plant is actively growing, and watch for slugs, snails, and aphids. Never fertilize pineapple lilies in winter when they're dormant.