Associating Eucomis

In an exotic garden

Eucomis add an exotic touch to tropical-looking scenes. They are paired with the graphic foliage of Fatsia japonica, the Cordylines or New Zealand Flax also known as Phormium, which offer a colour palette ranging from green to cream to bronze red, harmonising with the variegated foliage of Eucomis vandermerwei. The pink purple flowering of Eucomis ‘Twinkle Star’ takes centre stage in very “jungle” scenes alongside the Aeoniums or ornamental gingers Hedychiums, beneath the broad leaves of a Colocasia or the Tetrapanax papyrifera which is hardier in our climate. However, the effect also works under the cover of a simple Paulownia or in front of a bed of bamboos.

Eucomis ‘Vandermeiwei’, Phormium tenax, Fatsia japonica and Cordyline

In a grandmother's garden

With the return of the “vintage” trend, grandmother’s gardens or gardens of yesteryear are making a comeback. Upon closer inspection, the Eucomis – even though the English call it pineapple lily – more easily evokes the silhouette of fritillaries or imperial crowns (Fritillaria imperialis), which were found in the flowerbeds and borders of our grandmothers’ gardens. The idea is to create a generous and very graphic flowerbed.

Combine the Eucomis ‘Pole-Evansii’, with its upright green foliage followed by large cream-white flower spikes, with Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ featuring upright foliage and generous scarlet blooms. At their feet, a carpet of Cistus pulverulentus with deep pink corollas resembling wild roses will balance the extravagant yet elegant character of this combination. You can also simply combine the long leaves of the pure white flowering Eucomis from Eucomis ‘Playa Blanca®’ in a large lemon green and white flowerbed. All of this on a carpet composed of Alchemilla ‘Lady’s Mantle’, and Japanese Anemones ‘Honorine Jobert’.

For bolder gardeners, we suggest pairing these same white-flowering Eucomis with the flowering of the shrubby wallflower Erysimum linifolium ‘Bowles Mauve’ whose spectacular mauve blooms last from April to October.

Eucomis ‘Playa Blanca’, Alchemilla mollis, Erysimum linifolium ‘Bowles Mauve’, Japanese Anemone

In a natural garden

For a romantic garden with a very natural charm, you can combine Eucomis with pink flowering Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Rosy’ in a rustic scene that will suit any country garden and is not overly sophisticated. By pairing the decorative flowering Malus Malus ‘Prairie Fire’ with the currant Ribes gordonianum, whose fragrant spring blooms will harmonise with those of the Clerodendron bungei. It is at the end of summer that the flowering of Eucomis will take over and highlight the bark and especially the small apples that will remain on the branches until the end of the flowering of the Eucomis and even beyond. To tie it all together, we recommend adding to this beautiful combination the generous flowering of garden chrysanthemum Chrysanthemum indicum ‘Julia’. The greenish white then white tinged with old rose of its myriad flowers will bring great joy to its two neighbours as they join in this soft chromatic range of late summer.

Eucomis comosa ‘Sparkling Rosy’, Malus ‘Prairie Fire’, Ribes ‘Gordonianum’, Clerodendron bungei

For a misty effect

If you dream of a garden or a fluffy border, we recommend pairing Eucomis autumnalis with the delicate mist of Sporobolus heterolepsis. This ornamental grass will form a clump of changing foliage, with a silky texture and golden colour with orange highlights in autumn. It is at the end of summer that the scene will reach its full splendour with the flowering of rose-brown spike flowers, with an intense coriander scent.

Even more surprising… Pair Eucomis bicolor with its deep brown-spotted lemon green foliage in a fluffy cloud of dill Anethum graveolens or even better, fennel Foeniculum vulgare. Add the cardinal red flowering of the bush sage Salvia jamensis ‘Rêve Rouge’ or the scarlet spikes of the pineapple sage Salvia elegans.

Eucomis bicolor, Anethum graveolens, bottom left: Salvia ‘Rêve Rouge’, right: Salvia elegans

Nothing compares to the graphic and fluffy effect of grasses paired with Eucomis ‘Pole Evansii’. A true green and cream candle in a border combining Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra’ and Pennisetum alopecuroides ‘Black Beauty’, from which emerge the fluffy chartreuse inflorescences of Patrinia monandra. This large Asian perennial is so easy to grow but is underused; shh, it will be our secret!!!

Eucomis ‘Pole Evansii’, Patrinia monandra with yellow flowers, spikes of Pennisetum ‘Black Beauty’ and Miscanthus sinensis ‘Little Zebra'[/caption>

In a pot

The stately habit of Eucomis will thrive in very interesting and structured pots on a terrace or in a courtyard. If you place Eucomis near your windows, opt for Eucomis comosa ‘Leia’, whose floral spikes exude a heady coconut fragrance, unlike many Eucomis, which tend to have an unpleasant smell… largely compensated by their beauty.

To create a beautiful harmony on your terrace at the end of summer, the Eucomis will be placed between the compact ball of St. John’s Wort Hypericum inodorum ‘Magical red flame’, whose repeat flowering bright yellow will be followed until frost by astonishing large clusters of red then black fruits, and the heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica, whose light and highly decorative foliage varies from green to fiery red throughout the season. For a more exotic touch, pair the Eucomis vandermerwei ‘Octopus’ with Melianthus major for its exuberant, deeply cut, blue-grey foliage resembling that of a giant fern.

Eucomis comosa ‘Leia’, Melianthus major, Hypericum ‘Magical red flame’, Fruits of the heavenly bamboo Nandina domestica

Eric's favourite

If you dream of a soft combination, you can pair the most unusual Eucomis, the Eucomis vandermerwei ‘Octopus’ with its deep purple flowering with the broad, velvety grey foliage of Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’. A true, ever-present, pearly white padding, creating a snug nest in which this incredible Eucomis with green leaves speckled with black will curl up. For a touch of lightness, you can associate it with the Artemisia arborescens ‘Little Mice’ with its grey, fuzzy, finely cut evergreen leaves.

Eucomis vandermerwei ‘Octopus’, Artemisia ‘Little Mice’, Senecio candicans ‘Angel Wings’