Eucomis comosa Can Can - Pineapple flower

Eucomis comosa 'Can Can', also known as pineapple lily or pineapple flower, is a perennial bulbous plant with a tropical appearance that is actually hardy in many regions. It forms a rosette of long, ribbon-like leaves with very ornamental wavy edges. In summer, its spectacular flowering spike reaches up to 70 cm in height, carried by a purple floral stem. Dozens of small star-shaped flowers bloom for several weeks, in shades ranging from pinkish white to creamy white. This astonishing and little-known plant has a great impact in flowerbeds in the garden and thrives just as well in a pot to enhance a terrace. It grows in rich, moist, well-drained soil, in full sun and can tolerate light shade.

Eucomis was classified in the Lily family, then moved to the Hyacinthaceae family and now belongs to the Asparagaceae family, which includes several former botanical families. It includes asparagus (Asparagus), after which the family is named, and a multitude of ornamental genera, such as Yucca, Agave, or Chlorophytum found in our interiors. There are 15 species of Eucomis, all deciduous and native to southern Africa. These plants grow from a swollen bulb, forming clumps of crown-like leaves resembling the silhouette of a pineapple, hence their common name.
'Can Can' is a horticultural variety obtained by the American breeder Eddie Welsh, who ran a nursery near the town of Palmerston North in New Zealand and was a world specialist in the Eucomis genus. Like the botanical species, this cultivar forms a large rosette of long, narrow leaves, with a well-defined central vein, giving the leaf blade a V-shaped open section. Gradually tapering to a point, the leaves have wavy edges, creating a very aesthetic visual effect. Of a beautiful bright green, they are sometimes edged with a purple line that further enhances their original architecture. Measuring 60 to 70 cm in diameter, the deciduous clump of leaves that emerges in spring is quite impressive.
By late spring, a growth forms in the centre of the rosette and grows to exceed the height of the foliage. This purple stem supports a floral spike made up of several dozen flowers and measuring around twenty-five centimetres in length. Pink floral buds open into small six-branched cream-white stars, dotted with a dark pink heart. The flowers open sequentially from the bottom of the spike upwards, with mature flowers being overshadowed by unopened buds, while a cluster of green bracts dominates the spike, giving it the appearance of a pineapple. The flowering, which can last up to a month and a half, spreads between July and September and is eye-catching in the garden, given how unusual and exceptional the plant is. In autumn, its deciduous foliage disappears, entering dormancy, awaiting the following spring to emerge again.

With quite respectable hardiness, except in cold regions where frost can harm it, Eucomis comosa 'Can Can' is one of those ideal plants to give a tropical feel to a flowerbed. Pair it with Aloe striatula, with an equally exotic silhouette featuring fleshy rosettes and abundant flowering in orange-yellow spikes, placing it on a small mound of soil for good drainage and to enhance its appearance. Hedychiums, or ornamental gingers, are also perfect for evoking the Tropics with their large silky green leaves and notably their incredibly graceful flower spikes. Position them in the background under light shade and water them in summer to promote flowering. And to add an even more exuberant touch, plant a Tetrapanax papyrifera 'Rex', with huge leaves that can reach 1.10 m in diameter, especially if pruned severely each year. Also, consider surrounding it with a rhizome barrier, as it tends to sucker profusely.