Late January and Feburary are the flowering time for the pineapple lily in our gardens. So named because although not a true lily it is in the lily family and because the tops of the flowers have a green tuft of foliage which resembles the fruit of the pineapple's green tuft of foliage.
Botanically the genus is called Eucomis and the plant grows from large fleshy bulbs, which are completely dormant over winter.
The Eucomis are native to Africa, and grow well in New Zealand in areas that dont get hard frosts in winter.
The tall spikes of flowers grow to about a meter tall usually, and the flower colours are creamy green with a deep mauve spot in the centre. Seed pods after flowering are shades of green and attractive in their own right.
The flowers are long lasting on the plant; and when cut for floristry last 2 weeks or more in the vase. we love them here at Flowers 4 Nelson and grow several large clumps in our gardens. We also have a smaller growing variety with pinkish flowers and mauve purple foilage.