Eucomis

Eucomis belongs to the plant (plantae) kingdom of the hyacinth (hyacinthaceae) family, within the order of asparagales. It is a genus of the fragrant South African bulbs with most species commonly referred to as pineapple lilies or pineapple flowers. This plant has a tropical appearance, with fleshy leaves and miniature flower spikes that resembles a pineapple and appear in late summer and early autumn. These atypical garden plants can easily be distinguished from other pedestrian varieties since on top of the flower stakes, they have basal rosettes of lance-like leaves and comical tufts of foliage.

The name of the plant is derived from the Greek terms “eu”, which means pleasing, and “kome”, which means hair of the head, referring to the leaf-like bracts’ tuft that crown the species’ inflorescence.

About 11 species in this genus thrive in Malawi, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa. The genus Eucomis can be found in swamps, forests, grasslands and on river banks. However, it cannot be seen in drier regions.

Some of the common species of this genus include Eucomis comosa, an ornamental plant in the Hyacinthaceae family that grows up to 22–26 inches. It bears pink flower spikes that are topped with tufts of green leaves. Another species is the Eucomis autumnalis, a deciduous bulbous perennial plant that grows during summer. They have rosettes of broad waxy leaves and large bulbs. This specific species of the genus Eucomis makes an excellent horticultural specimen especially when they are planted in groups, in large pots, in herbaceous borders or in rockeries. Flowers grow well either in a vase or in the garden.