Eucomis is a southern African genus in the Hyacinthaceae family. Plants are commonly known as Pineapple lilies because in many of the species the blooms resemble a pineapple. They often have an unpleasant scent since they are pollinated by flies. Most of the species are found in the summer rainfall areas of South Africa, some at higher elevations. In cultivation they have proved to be hardy to frost, especially if planted deeply or protected during their dormancy by snow. They are best grown in the shade and given regular water during growth. This is especially true of plants grown in sun as otherwise the leaves will become limp.
This genus can be propagated by leaf cuttings best taken early in the season and not misted. Two pictures below from Brian Whyer show propagation from leaf cuttings.
Eucomis was the subject of the Pacific Bulb Society topic of the week in August 2003. Click on the Introduction by David Fenwick.
Eucomis autumnalis from southeastern southern Africa is found on rocky, grassy slopes and has white to greenish flowers blooming summer into fall. There are three subspecies.
Eucomis autumnalis ssp. amaryllidifolia (Baker) Reyneke is a rarer subspecies that produces reasonably thick ovate prostrate leaves in a rosette fashion and has white flowers. Photo by Cameron McMaster taken at Waainek in the Eastern Cape.
Eucomis autumnalis ssp. autumnalis syn. Eucomis undulata forms a dense rosette of strap like leaves with undulating edges and white or green flowers on spikes around 60 cm. high. Tony Avent reports that this taxa has leaves with an unusual texture that feels like rubber.
Eucomis autumnalis ssp. clavata (Baker) Reyneke grows to 30 cm and is found in damp grassland, on slopes or at the foot of cliffs. Leaves of this species have margins that are crisped and wavy. The creamy green flowers are on a stout stem, club-shped and tightly packed.
The first photo was taken by David Fenwick and the second taken by Paul Tyerman of a dwarf white flowering plant David speculates is also this species. The third photo below was taken by Arnold Trachtenberg. The last three photos are of pot grown plants from specific areas by Cameron McMaster including one that shows the detail of a flower. The first, the Kei Bolo form of Eucomis autumnalis is the latest to flower - flowering in late April to May. It occurs naturally at altitudes of 700m in the transition between Valley Thicket and Grassland on the slopes above the Kei River Valley in the Stutterheim distict of the Eastern Cape. It is found between rocks and in rock crevices, protected from harsh sun and wind. The Triple Streams form of E. autumnalis pictured in the second two photos comes from glades within patches of Afromontane forest in the Stutterheim distict of the Eastern Cape where it grows in mottled shade.
Photos below of flowers in habitat from Cameron McMaster. This is the typical robust form of Eucomis autumnalis growing in open grassland in full sun at altitudes above 1000m. It grows in a summer rainfall area with precipitation in excess of 700 mm (about 28 inches) pa.
Eucomis bicolor is from KwaZulu-Natal and has a large head of white edged with purple flowers that are wider at the top. The flowers are covered in a rosette of smaller bract like leaves giving this species its pineapple appearance. Plants form a large rosette of wide leaves, to 75 cm. across, often spotted purple at the base. This species is found on grassy streambanks and in forests. The first photo was taken by David Fenwick and the second by Arnold Trachtenberg of a plant grown outdoors in Northern New Jersey. The last four photos were taken by Cameron McMaster at Sentinel Peak in the Drakensberg.
Eucomis comosa is found in grassland and marshes from the southeastern Cape into KwaZulu-Natal. Leaves are purple below with wavy or crisped margins and the flowers are greenish with purplish ovaries. There are two varieties:
Eucomis comosa var. comosa , syn. Eucomis punctata grows both in dry and damp areas and is 20 to 60 cm. tall. It has long strap like leaves. Many forms are in cultivation, and the leaves can be quite variable in color, from light green to a dark burgundy. Flowers are usually white, but sometimes pinky, or purplish.
Eucomis comosa var. striata found in swamps is taller (to 1.2 meters) and has purple stripes rather than spots on the back of the leaves and a spotted spike. Photo by David Fenwick
Photos below are of this species. The first photo was taken by David Fenwick and the next two of a plant misnamed Eucomis autumnalis pink. Since that species does not have pink ovaries I believe it is misnamed and could very well be Eucomis comosa. David Fenwick agrees. The fourth photo in the grouping below was taken August 2004 by Mary Sue Ittner at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. The last two pictures from Cameron McMaster may be habitat pictures. Eucomis comosa occurs in seepage areas and stream banks at high altitudes in the Amatola Mountain region of the Eastern Cape. It is confined to moist areas where it gets protection from fairly dense vegetation around it. The second photo was taken at Mt. Kubusie.
Eucomis humilis is endemic to the Drakensberg alpine region where it is found in rocky stream gullies, wet rock overhangs, and in grasslands. It has keeled leaves with wavy margins tinged purple and is spotted purple below. The inflorescence has a dense tuft of small bracts edged purple and the stem is spotted purple. The flowers are greenish white tinged or edged purple with purple stamens. It has an unpleasant scent.
Eucomis montana grows to 30 cm and has erect leaves without wavy margins, purple stems, and green to white flowers with purplish brown stamens and ovary. Tony Avent describes this one as having the best flowers with the anthers appearing fused, creating a dark ey against the white petals. In cultivation it tends to be taller than in the wild.
Eucomis pallidiflora ssp. pole-evansii (N.E.Br.) Reyneke ex J.C.Manning, syn. Eucomis pole-evansii, is the tallest species of the genus, growing to 1.8m/6ft. In the wild it prefers wetland habitats, but it will grow in average garden soils, if regularly irrigated. It has leaves over 1 meter long, wide at the base tapering along their length. The wide open green flowers appear mid summer, but may need staking to prevent them from bending over. Photo by David Fenwick.
Eucomis regia , the only species from the winter rainfall part of South Africa, has prostrate leaves and cream to greenish flowers. Photographed in Nieuwoudtville where it was growing in the reserve in doleritic boulders July 22, 2005 by Cameron McMaster in the Bokkeveld Plateau. The form in the first two photos was much larger and blooming earlier. The third photo, also taken by Cameron illustrates the smaller form of Eucomis regia that grows in the Caledon and Bredasdorp districts of the West Cape in the Overberg. It is common in shale soil usually on southern aspects where it is protected by fairly rank overgrowth. The fourth and fifth pictures were taken in Namaqualand by Bob Rutemoeller. These plants were growing off the road, but high on the edge of the bank. The last picture is of a cultivated plant in California as it begins to break dormancy, by Jacob Knecht.
Eucomis spp. These pictures by Paul Tyerman are of a purple leaved Eucomis. The purple-leaf with white flowers shoots almost black when it first emerges, fading out to deep purple leaves when fully unfurled. Over the course of the season they slowly fade until at flowering they are green with an overlay of bronze, topped by a 1m or so tall stem of white flowers.
The purple-leafed with pink flowers shoots dark purple, then the leaves slowly fade to green by flowering. This has attractive pink flowers which I rather love. Only a couple of feet tall though. These plants are most likely hybrids between both Eucomis comosa and Eucomis pole-evansii David Fenwick speculates.
The pictures below were taken in Harry Hay's gardens by Lee Poulsen of an unidentified species.
Eucomis schijffii is a dwarf species that grows to 10 cm. and is found in wet basalt gravel or rock faces at 2300 to 3200 meters. It is endemic to the Drakensberg alpine region. It has 3 to 4 prostrate leaves with grooved veins that are maroon tinged on the reverse. Flowers are dull dark red or purple with purple stamens. Photos taken by Cameron McMaster at Tiffendell and Sentinel Peak.
Eucomis vandermerwei grows in grassland in the northern province of South Africa and flowers mid summer with maroon flowers. The first two photos by David Fenwick shows several varieties of leaves and the second flowers. The third picture from Mary Sue Ittner shows a pot on display in the Kirstenbosch bulb room.
Eucomis zambesiaca from highland regions of Malawi is described by Tony Avent as being a superb garden plant in North Carolina. It is a smaller species with brilliant white flowers on a spike approximately 30 cm. high, and a rosette 45 cm. across. Photos by Alessandro Marinello
And thanks to David Fenwick for this picture of a pollinator, a common house fly.
To see more photos and attractive cultivars visit the Eucomis on David Fenwick's web page The African Garden