Pineapple Lily 'Dark Star'

These garden super stars flower for months and are simple to care for. Their tropical flair adds great texture and contrast wherever they are grown. The flowers grow to 25cm above the crown.

In gardens or pots, they are a breeze. The flowers begin blooming in January and will last over a month in the garden (longer weather permitting), and easily two in a vase. The blooms unfurl on purple-red stems from the base to the top. The flowers are purple to red with white stamens. Each flower stem is topped with the characteristic, mottled, green and purple foliage tuft that gives this plant its common name of Pineapple Lily – guaranteed to elicit smiles.

The strappy leaves have a wavy edge and gorgeous purple spotting on the reverse. The foliage grows 20-30cm long and lasts well into autumn, where it remains a handsome garden feature.

Pineapple Lilies are endemic to the mountainous regions of South Africa, so are well suited to a range of Australian conditions. They are low maintenance and long lived.

Pineapple Lilies thrive in gardens or pots. Plant into moderately fertile to humus rich, well drained soil in a full sun to semi shade location. Water to establish, then only if rainfall is low.

The botanical name, Eucomis, is from the Greek; eu meaning good, and kome meaning hair!