Eucomis bicolor (pineapple lily)

Eucomis bicolor is native to South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland, where it is found up to 2,800 m above sea level.

Emerging basal leaves of Eucomis bicolor (Image: Phillip Ostley)

Overview: Bulbous perennial with basal rosette of strap-shaped leaves.

Leaves: Green, shiny, oblong, up to 50×10 cm, with a wavy margin.

Scape (stalk arising from ground level and bearing flowers): Cylindrical, up to 60 cm long, with maroon blotches.

Flowers: Borne in a dense cluster at the top of the scape and topped by a crown of sterile, leafy bracts. Individual flowers are star-shaped, composed of six tepals (undifferentiated petals and sepals) that are fused at the base. Tepals are cream with distinct maroon edges. Each flower contains six stamens and a three-angled ovary.

Flowers are pollinated almost exclusively by flies in the families Calliphoridae (blowflies), Muscidae (including house flies) and Sarcophagidae (flesh flies). The floral scent includes sulphur compounds attractive to carrion flies.

Cultivars available include Eucomis bicolor ‘Alba’, which has uniformly green-white tepals.

Pineapple lily is threatened by collection from the wild for use in traditional medicine. This practice is thought to be responsible for a 20% reduction in populations in the last 75 years.

Pineapple lily is cultivated as an ornamental for its impressive, long-lasting display of star-shaped flowers. The leaves also provide textural interest.

Bulbs of Eucomis species are used in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho and Xhosa traditional medicine. Bulbs and root shavings are boiled in water or milk and used as ingredients in infusions to treat pain and fever. Extracts from E. bicolor are also used to treat colic and as a purgative. Scientific research has found bulb and root extracts to have anti-inflammatory activity.

Emerging shoot of Eucomis bicolor (Image: Phillip Ostley)

Pineapple lily can be grown in a glasshouse maintained at a minimum of 10°C when the plant is in growth and 4°C when dormant. In mild areas it can be grown outside if protected with a thick covering of mulch during winter or else bulbs can be lifted, cleaned and kept in a cool, dry place until spring.

When planting outdoors during autumn, bulbs should be placed about 15 cm deep in rich, well-drained soil. Indoors, one bulb should be placed in a 12.5 cm pot, with the bulb tips just showing at the surface of the soil. Dormant bulbs should be watered sparingly.

Flowering occurs in late summer and lasts well into autumn, although there is leaf interest from spring throughout much of the year.

Dried specimen of Eucomis bicolor from Kew's Herbarium

Pineapple lily can be seen growing in the borders around Kew’s Temperate House and in the Southern Hemisphere Garden at Wakehurst Place.

Pressed and dried specimens of Eucomis bicolor are held in Kew’s Herbarium, where they are available to researchers by appointment. Details of some of these specimens, including images, can be seen online in Kew’s Herbarium Catalogue.

Search Kew’s science databases for more information on Eucomis bicolor

Red List of South African Plants – Eucomis bicolor

The Royal Horticultural Society – Eucomis bicolor

eMonocot - an online resource for monocot plants