A Collection of Five Eucomis

A Collection of five Eucomis or pineapple plants, perfect for adding an unusual and exotic touch to your borders, beds, and terraces. These bulbous plants are hardy down to -8 or -10°C (17.6 or 14°F), can be grown in the ground in regions that are not too cold, and also adapt well to pot culture that can be overwintered if necessary. They form beautiful rosettes of large leaves from astonishing oval inflorescences.  These emerge in summer in shades of pink, white and green topped with a pineapple-like tuft. They will thrive in any good well-drained garden soil that remains moist.

This collection consists of:

- 1 x Eucomis comosa Sparkling Rosy: a particularly vigorous and delightfully coloured variety, reaching 70 cm (28in) in height when in flower, and occupying 60 cm (24in) in width on the ground. This flowers in the form of a long spike densely filled with small pink flowers, emerging from a rosette of dark purple leaves. Hardiness: approximately -10°C (14°F).

- 1 x Eucomis pole-evansii: the largest species in the Eucomis genus, with flower stalks that can exceed 1.50 m (5ft) in height. They bear a beautiful white floral spike that turns green when the flowers fade. The spectacular leaf rosette extends from 80 cm (32in) to 1 m (3ft). Place it at the back of borders with large perennials. Hardiness: approximately -8°C (17.6°F).

 - 3 x Eucomis bicolor: an easily grown and charming botanical species. The plant measures approximately 60 cm (24in) in height when in flower and 50-60 cm (20-24in) in width. The inflorescence is made up of small white-green flowers bordered with purplish pink. Hardiness: approximately -10°C (14°F).

The plants are individually labelled.

Eucomis belongs to the Lily family, or the Hyacinth family according to classifications. They are mostly native to southern Africa. Eucomis is a herbaceous perennial with deciduous foliage, developing from an enlarged bulb. In spring, its foliage emerges in a voluminous rosette of shiny, elongated, flat, and undulate leaves. Initially of modest size, the leaves grow and expand until flowering. They are arranged in a crown around a central axis. In the heart of summer (July-August), the eucomis unfurls a tall flower spike covered in tiny star-shaped flowers with a slightly waxy texture, topped with a cluster of leaves, similar to the one found at the top of a pineapple fruit. This plant produces bulblets around the mother bulb, allowing the clump to slowly expand over the years.

Planting this collection of Eucomis allows you to renew your garden's decor, bringing that exotic touch, without overshadowing the charm of the accompanying plants. The smaller Eucomis can be planted in rockeries or along pathways, in the foreground or middle ground of a raised bed. Eucomis pole-evansii is better suited to the back of borders, alongside kniphofias, crocosmias, and acanthus, for example. The pineapple-like flowers look stunning alongside mulleins (Verbascum), scabious, tall foxgloves, oriental poppies, grasses... They are also easy plants to grow in pots (which allows them to be overwintered), and their long-lasting flowers will make beautiful exotic bouquets.