Eucomis comosa (Houtt.) Wehrh. 1929, commonly called Pineapple Lily or Pineapple Flower, is a bulbous, perennial plant, native to South Africa.

Nowadays the pineapple lily belongs to the Asparagus family (Asparagaceae), in earlier taxonomic systems, the tropical plant was included in the Lily family (Liliaceae). Eucomis comosa (synonym: Eucomis punctata) plants can reach heights up to about 1 meter, whilst fully matured. The star-shaped flowers are born in dense racemes, topped by a rosette of small bracts, reminescent of pineapple plants. Single flowers get a size of about 2 cm in diameter. Flowering period in the Northern Hemisphere: late Winter - Spring, in the Southern Hemisphere: late Summer - Autumn. Pineapple lilies are best cultivated in full sun and a well-drained soil. The tropical plant requires average water needs.

Flower Photography © Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Pineapple Lily (Eucomis comosa)

As we stumbled upon a few of that fancy plants, which we never saw before, we thought it will be very difficult to identify them. We saw them in different stadiums and we thought that must be different species. During our work on this site we learned a lot about botanical nomenclatura and taxonomy and we learned, that it`s sometimes the first intention, the first thought, which will lead to success in plant identification. We looked at our pictures and decided to call it a pineapple and because of the flowers and leaves a lily as well. Now it was just a small step to identify the plant as Eucomis comosa, Pineapple Lily. The Eucomis genus includes about 10 species, all native to Southern Africa.

Flower Photography © Orchids Flowers.com
Image: Pineapple Lily (Eucomis comosa)
left: Pineapple Lily blossom
right: Pineapple Lily fruits