How to Grow Eucomis (Pineapple Lily)

Eucomis, the pineapple lily, is a fun, easy summer bulb that looks far more exotic than it is to grow. A thick spike of starry flowers rises from a rosette of glossy leaves, topped with a tuft of green leafy bracts. The whole thing looks just like a pineapple.

It comes from southern Africa, where summers are wet and winters are dry. So it wants sun and water in summer and a dry rest in winter. Get that rhythm right and it comes back bigger each year. This guide covers the best types, planting, pots, and getting the bulbs safely through a British winter.

What is a pineapple lily?

Pineapple lilies are summer-flowering bulbs. In late spring a rosette of broad, strappy leaves appears. From July a stout stem rises from the middle. It carries dozens of small starry flowers in white, cream, green, pink or burgundy, crowned with a leafy topknot.

The flowers open from the bottom up, and a spike stays looking good for weeks. Afterwards, green seed pods keep the pineapple shape going into autumn. Spikes also last well in a vase. Most garden types are 30-75cm tall.

Dozens of starry flowers pack the spike, with that leafy topknot on top. No wonder it’s called the pineapple lily.

Best pineapple lilies to grow

For a first try, choose ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ for its dark leaves, or E. bicolor for a compact, easy plant. Both do well in pots.

The giant E. pole-evansii is a real showstopper. It is tall and top-heavy, so it needs a sheltered spot and is best lifted or moved under cover in winter.

‘Sparkling Burgundy’ looks good from the moment its dark leaves appear, long before the pink spike opens.

When and how to plant Eucomis bulbs

Plant bulbs in March or April, once the worst frosts are over and the soil is warming. Don’t plant in autumn. A bulb that sits in cold, wet soil all winter usually rots before it grows.

1. Pick a spot in full sun, ideally south or west facing and sheltered.
2. On heavy soil, dig in plenty of coarse grit, or use a pot instead.
3. Put a handful of grit in the bottom of the hole.
4. Plant the bulb pointy end up, about 15cm deep.
5. Space bulbs about 20-30cm apart.
6. Water once, then wait for shoots before watering much more.

Shoots can be slow to show, often not until late spring. Mark where you planted so you don’t dig them up by mistake.

A gritty compost keeps the bulb from sitting wet. Plant in spring and the leaves will follow as the weather warms.

Growing pineapple lilies in pots

Pots are the easiest way to grow Eucomis, especially in cold or wet gardens. They drain well, warm up fast and can be moved under cover for winter.

Use a pot about 25-30cm wide with good drainage holes. Fill it with peat-free multipurpose compost mixed with about a third grit. Plant one to three bulbs with the tips a few centimetres below the surface. Stand the pot in your sunniest spot.

Water well once the leaves are growing, but don’t leave the pot sitting in a saucer of water. Feed every couple of weeks from late spring with a high-potash liquid feed, such as tomato feed. Repot every few years, splitting off the young bulbs as you go.

A sunny courtyard suits pineapple lilies perfectly. Pots also make winter easy, as you can move them somewhere dry.

Summer care: watering and feeding

Pineapple lilies grow fast in summer and like plenty of water while in leaf. In a hot spell, a pot in full flower can wilt if it dries out, so check it often. Plants in the ground need watering only in long dry spells.

A high-potash feed every couple of weeks from late spring helps build a strong bulb and good flowers. Stop feeding as the flowers fade in late summer. Leave the leaves on until they turn yellow, as they are feeding the bulb for next year.

Slugs and snails love the soft new shoots in spring. Check pots after damp evenings until the leaves toughen up. The guide to getting rid of slugs has more ideas.

How to get Eucomis through a UK winter

Pineapple lilies cope with a fair bit of cold if they are dry. What kills them is sitting in cold, wet soil through winter. Once the leaves turn yellow in autumn, stop watering completely until spring.

In the ground: in mild gardens with free-draining soil, leave bulbs in place. Once the leaves die back, cover the spot with a thick, dry mulch, about 15cm deep, of bark or straw. In cold or wet gardens, lift the bulbs and store them dry.

In pots: move pots somewhere dry and frost-free once the leaves yellow, such as a shed, garage or cold greenhouse. Tip them on their side to keep any rain out. Leave the bulbs in their dry compost until March, then start watering again.

The guide to overwintering tender plants covers mulching and storage in more detail. If you lift bulbs, see the guide to storing flower bulbs.

A deep, dry mulch over the dormant bulb helps keep off the worst frost and wet. Pull it back in spring.

Pineapple lilies in an exotic border

Eucomis fits right in with other exotic-looking summer plants. Grow it with cannas, colocasia, dahlias and agapanthus for a bold late-summer bed. The thick spikes and glossy leaves still look good when softer flowers fade. The guide to growing cannas follows the same plant-in-spring, protect-in-winter rhythm.

The open flowers also attract bees and hoverflies. Some types, such as E. bicolor, have a slightly odd smell up close, which draws in flies. It is easy to ignore in an open border.

Pineapple lilies, dahlias and big canna leaves make a bold late-summer mix. The spikes hold it all together.

If you love bold, exotic flowers, the crinum lily is another big summer bulb for a warm, sunny wall.

Getting more plants: offsets and leaf cuttings

Eucomis makes offsets, small young bulbs around the base of the main bulb. Split them off in spring when you repot. Pot each one up in gritty compost. They usually reach flowering size in two or three years.

You can also try leaf cuttings in early summer. Cut a healthy leaf into sections about 5cm long. Push each piece into gritty compost the right way up, and keep it warm and lightly moist. Tiny bulbs form at the base over several weeks.

Pineapple lily care calendar

Common mistakes with pineapple lilies

• Planting in autumn. Bulbs sit wet all winter and rot. Plant in March or April.
• Wet soil in winter. This is the biggest killer. Use grit, raised beds or pots.
• Too much shade. They need full sun to flower well.
• Watering while dormant. Stop once the leaves yellow and start again in spring.
• Forgetting slugs. Protect the soft new shoots in spring.

Frequently asked questions

How do you grow Eucomis in the UK?

Plant bulbs in spring in full sun and free-draining soil or pots. Water and feed through summer while they grow. Then keep them dry over winter under a thick mulch, or move pots under cover.

Is the pineapple lily hardy in the UK?

It is fairly hardy in mild, well-drained gardens. Cold, wet soil in winter is what usually kills it. In colder or wetter gardens, grow it in pots and keep them dry and frost-free in winter.

When do you plant Eucomis bulbs?

Plant them in March or April. Pots can be started under glass in March. Avoid autumn planting, as bulbs sitting cold and wet all winter tend to rot.

Can you grow pineapple lily in pots?

Yes, pots suit them very well. Use a pot about 25-30cm wide with gritty, free-draining compost. Pots warm up quickly in spring and are easy to move under cover for winter.

How deep do you plant Eucomis bulbs?

About 15cm deep in the ground. In pots, plant a little shallower, with the tip a few centimetres below the surface. On heavy soil, sit each bulb on a layer of grit.

Why is my Eucomis not flowering?

Usually it needs more sun or more time. Pineapple lilies flower best in a hot, sunny spot. Young bulbs and newly split offsets often take a year or two to flower.

For blue flowers at the same time of year, read the guide to growing agapanthus, which loves the same sunny spot. You’ll find more summer bulbs in the plants hub.