Eucomis is a southern African genus with ten species in the Hyacinthaceae family. These are commonly known as Pineapple lilies because in many of the species the blooms resemble a pineapple. Most of the species are found in the summer rainfall areas of South Africa. 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. 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 gows 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 Kwa Zulu-Natal and has white flowers edged with purple. It 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.
Eucomis comosa is found in grassland and marshes from the southeastern Cape into Kwa Zulu-Natal. Leaves are purple below with wavy or crisped margins and the flowers are greenish with purplish ovaries. 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 most areas where it gets protection from fairly dense vegetation around it. The second photo was taken at Mt. Kubusie.
Eucomis comosa var. striata found in swamps is taller and has purple stripes rather than spots on leaves.
Photo by David Fenwick
Eucomis pole-evansii is the tallest with green flowers blooming mid summer. Photo by David Fenwick.
Eucoms 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 vandermerwei grows in grassland in the northern province of South Africa and flowers mid summer with maroon flowers. Photos by David Fenwick. The first photo shows several varieties of leaves and the second flowers.
Two pictures from Brian Whyer show propagation from leaf cuttings.
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
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