Eucomis comosa aka Pineapple Flower

Eucomis comosa grows from a bulb and lives for years. It belongs to the asparagus family, Asparagaceae. Its common names include pineapple lily and pineapple flower. Its home is eastern South Africa, from Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal. This region has a subtropical climate. The plant grows in upright clumps and sheds its leaves each year. It grows at a moderate rate, and bulbs can live for years.

Garden plants stand about 1.5–3.3 feet (0.45–1 m) tall. Reports give spreads of about 1.6–2 feet (0.5–0.6 m). Long, strap-shaped leaves form a rosette, or ring, at ground level. They have wavy edges and purple spots beneath. Sources call the green leaves pale or dark. Stout flower stems are pale green with purple stripes or spots. They can reach about 2.5 feet (0.75 m). Dense flower spikes, called racemes, reach about 1 foot (0.3 m) long.

Small flowers shaped like stars crowd each upright raceme. They range from white to greenish white, with purple edges or tints. Small, leaf-like bracts form a crown above the flowers. This makes the flower head look like a pineapple. North Carolina State gives July and August as bloom months. Chicago Botanic Garden gives a wider span, May to August. Flowers open from the bottom up over six to eight weeks. Bees and butterflies come to feed on their nectar. Purple fruit and seeds keep the show going after bloom. North Carolina State calls the fruit a fleshy berry.

Grow this bulb in full sun, in a sheltered spot. North Carolina State says it also grows in partial shade. Give it fertile soil rich in organic matter. Keep soil moist during bloom, but do not let it get soggy. Soil must drain well through the growing season. RHS lists chalk, loam, and sand as soils it accepts. It grows in acid, neutral, and alkaline soil. Published USDA ratings span zones 7–10, though Chicago lists 8–10. RHS gives it H4 and advises mulch in colder places.

Use pineapple lily in mixed borders, pots, or patio plantings. Its upright flower heads also suit planting as a lone feature. It needs little care and no pruning. Sources report few pests or diseases. Sow seed in spring or autumn to grow new plants. You can also remove small bulbs, called offsets, in spring. In colder areas, bulbs may need a protected place for winter storage. The supplied sources do not say whether it is edible or toxic.