Pineapple Lily/Eucomis Planting Guide
Flowers come in lots of shapes and forms - these remind us of crazy little Dr. Seusse characters with their spiky top tufts and colorful clusters of tiny florettes. Long flowering, easy care, rarely bothered by disease or bugs, these are fun additions to gardens and first-rate choices for containers.
Outdoor Beds
Pots, Barrels, Tubs & Urns
- Find a location where the soil drains well. If there are still water puddles 5-6 hours af soil, choose another spot. Pineapple lilies will not thrive in soggy soil or standing water.
- Site your eucomis where they'll receive full sun. In very hot regions, a little midday shade can be helpful.
- Dig holes and plant the bulbs 6” deep and 5”-7” apart. These are full, round bulbs with a pointy end; place that end facing up.
- After planting, water well, gently soaking the soil and settling it around the bulbs. Foliage will begin to appear in a few weeks and flowers are produced in the summer. Water as needed during active growth periods; about 1" of total moisture per week is a good general estimate.
- Feel free to cut the fanciful flowering stems for indoor use. This will not hurt your plants.
- After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't cut it off. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future.
- Late in the summer or in fall the leaves typically yellow and die back as the plant slips into dormancy. Foliage many be removed at this point. Your pineapple lilies will rest for a while before beginning the next growing cycle in early spring.
Pots, Barrels, Tubs & Urns
- Fill your containers with good quality, well-drained soil. Almost any commercially available potting medium will work fine. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes; these bulbs must never sit in soggy soil or standing water. >
- Site your eucomis where they'll receive full sun. In very hot regions, a little midday shade can be helpful.
- Dig holes and plant the bulbs 6” deep and 5” apart. These are full, round bulbs with a pointy end; place that end facing up.
- After planting, water well, gently soaking the soil and settling it around the bulbs. Foliage will begin to appear in a few weeks and flowers are produced in the summer. Water as needed during active growth periods; about 1" of total moisture per week is a good general estimate.
- Feel free to cut the fanciful flowers for indoor use. This will not hurt your plants.
- After blooming has finished for the season leave the foliage in place; don't snip it off. The leaves will gather sunlight, create food through photosynthesis and strengthen the bulb for the future.
- Late in the summer or in fall the leaves typically yellow and die back as the plant slips into dormancy. Foliage many be removed at this point. Your pineapple lilies will rest for a while before beginning the next growing cycle in early spring.
