Autumn pineapple lily

Autumn pineapple lily: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Bulb plant about 40 cm tall and 30 cm wide, with a rosette of leaves at ground level.

Leaves

Long, strap-shaped, with a wavy edge and bright green; they turn yellow in autumn.

Flower

A dense spike of pale green to greenish-white flowers opening from the bottom up, in August–September, with a leafy tuft on top.

Bulb

A firm bulb with thick roots; it is prone to rot in cold, wet soil.

Fruit

Three-angled seed capsules holding black seeds, which stay on the stem for a long time.

Flowering: August–September · Plants: April–May

Why grow it?

• Flowers late in summer, when many other plants are fading.
• Compact, so ideal for pots and the front of a border.
• The tuft of leaves and the pale green flower spike make a unique silhouette.
• Bees visit the flowers and the seed capsules stay decorative into autumn.
• Little work: once established it returns every year.

Autumn pineapple lily: where does it grow best?

• Full sun in a warm, sheltered spot, for example against a south-facing wall or on a patio.
• Humus-rich, free-draining soil: sandy or loamy, neutral to chalky. It does not tolerate wet feet.
• Keep the soil moist during growth: it comes from summer-rainfall regions and wants plenty of water from June to August.
• Allow 25–30 cm between plants. In a pot, use one at least 25–30 cm across.

Light

Sun

Soil type

Sand or loam

Acidity

Neutral or chalky

Moisture

Normal

Size

0.4 m tall, 0.3 m wide

Hardiness

Half hardy (to -10 °C): protect it in harsh winters

Goes well with

• Ornamental grasses: Soft plumes that make the pale green flower spike stand out.
• Argentinian vervain: Airy purple flowers above and behind the compact bulb.
• Sage: Violet and blue next to the pale green, in the same sunny soil.
• Dahlia: Flowers in the same period and adds more colour.
• Stonecrop: Late pink flower heads next to the green spike.

Autumn pineapple lily: when and how to plant it?

Plant in April–May.

1. Plant the bulbs in April–May, once the worst frosts are over.
2. Dig a hole 10–15 cm deep and mix in compost and some coarse sand for free-draining soil.
3. Set the bulb with the tip upwards, 10–15 cm deep. In a pot, use a roomy, deep pot with drainage holes and free-draining compost.
4. Space plants 25–30 cm apart and plant several together for a good effect.
5. Water thoroughly after planting; after that wait until shoots appear.
6. Spread a 5 cm layer of mulch over the spot to prevent drying out.

Care

Water

During growth, water regularly and generously, especially in dry summers. Stop once the leaves have died back.

Feeding

Every two weeks, a potash-rich feed from leaf growth until August, for example tomato feed. Not too much nitrogen.

Mulching

A layer of compost or bark keeps the soil moist in summer and protects the bulb in winter.

Late growth

Shoots appear late, sometimes only in May–June. Give it time and do not dig around.

Spent flowers

Leave the seed capsules as decoration; only cut the stem when it has turned brown.

Tip: Grow it in a pot on a sunny patio: then you can easily move it frost-free in winter. Keep the pot well moist during growth and give it a potash-rich feed.

Autumn pineapple lily: when to prune it?

When: It is not pruned; just cut off the stems and let the leaves die back.

How:

• Cut the stem when it is brown and dry, or leave it until autumn.
• Let the leaves turn yellow and die back; only cut them when they are completely dry.
• Do not remove green leaves: the bulb needs them to store food for next year.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Offsets

In spring, when lifting or repotting, detach the small offset bulbs and plant them separately. They flower after a few years.

Leaf cuttings

In summer, cut off a whole leaf with a piece of the bulb base and insert it in sandy compost. New little bulbs form, which are slower to flower.

Seed

Sow in spring in seed compost at 18–20 °C. Plants take a few years to flower.

Autumn pineapple lily: how does it get through the winter?

Hardy to −10 °C: protect in harsh winters.

• Hardy to about −10 °C, but only in a dry, sheltered spot under 10–15 cm of mulch.
• In wet or heavy soil, lift the bulbs once the leaves have died back, let them dry and store them dry at 5–10 °C, frost-free.
• In a pot: keep the pot dry and store it frost-free, for example in a cold greenhouse or garage.

Diseases and pests

• Rotting bulb: Caused by wet soil in winter. Plant in a free-draining spot and cover against rain in winter.
• Slugs: They eat the young leaves in spring. Collect them in the evening and protect young shoots.
• Vine weevil: The grubs eat bulbs in pots. Check when repotting and remove the white grubs by hand.
• No shoot: The plant starts late. Wait until June before giving up and do not let the soil dry out.

Through the year

• March: Check overwintered bulbs and repot if needed.
• April: Plant bulbs, 10–15 cm deep. Apply mulch.
• May: Plant. Keep slugs off. Wait for growth.
• June: Water in dry weather. Start potash feed.
• July: Water generously. Feed every two weeks.
• August: Flowering starts.
• September: Flowering. Leave the seed capsules.
• October: Leaves turn yellow: water less. Lift bulbs in heavy soil.
• November: Mulch thickly or move pots frost-free.
• December: Rest. Keep bulbs dry.

Good for wildlife

Bees

Nectar and pollen for honeybees and wild bees.

Did you know?

• The name Eucomis comes from Greek and means beautiful hair, after the tuft of leaves; autumnalis means of autumn, after the late flowering.
• The plant comes from summer-rainfall regions, so it wants plenty of water in summer and a dry rest in winter.
• The old name of the species was Eucomis undulata, after the wavy edge of the leaves.