Eucomis autumnalis - Pineapple flower

This Eucomis automnalis is a South African bulbous plant that is original and elegant. It develops a rosette of foliage with strongly undulating margins, from which peculiar inflorescences of clusters of small pendulous flowers, tinted pale yellow-green, emerge in late summer or autumn. These inflorescences are topped with a leafy tuft reminiscent of a pineapple. The flowers last a long time in the garden and a vase, and the fruiting is also quite decorative, extending the spectacle late into the season. It is also a relatively hardy and easy-to-grow species in full sun or partial shade, planted en masse in rockeries, herbaceous borders, on walls, or in large pots on the terrace.

Eucomis automnalis (synonym Eucomis undulata) belongs to the asparagaceae family. This botanical species, native to the northeast of South Africa, is sometimes called the pineapple flower due to its curious inflorescence resembling that of the pineapple (Ananas comosus), which belongs to the Bromeliaceae family and is native to South America. The autumn Eucomis develops from a giant tunicate bulb measuring up to 10 cm (4in) in diameter. The flowering plant can reach a height of 60 to 80 cm (24 to 32in) if the growing conditions are favourable. In spring, it forms a rosette with a diameter of 60 to 75 cm (24 to 30in), composed of large, soft, fleshy leaves with sharp, undulating edges, measuring 12 to 35 cm (5 to 14in) long. The cylindrical inflorescence does not appear until September-October at the top of a sturdy stem. It comprises about a hundred flowers ranging from yellow to green and is called a raceme. This raceme is topped with a tuft of foliose bracts. The fertilised flowers turn green, while mature fruits reveal round and shiny seeds, initially red burgundy and turning black when ripe, giving a highly decorative aspect to this curious plant.

A bulbous perennial with a very exotic appearance, Eucomis automnalis is planted in groups and will naturally find its place in an exotic pathway, a fresh rockery, a bed composed of rare and original plants, or even in a large container on the terrace or balcony. It is low-maintenance but will thrive in soil rich in humus, consistently moist but well-drained, in full sun or partial shade. Its flowers remain decorative in the garden for a long time and last 1 to 2 weeks in bouquets, while the fruit-laden spikes and seeds can be preserved for nearly a month in a vase. This pineapple flower can be paired with Hedychiums (Hedychium coccineum Tara), Cannas, common castor oil plants, and even small, light grasses such as Stipa tenuifolia, oriental Pennisetum, or Muhlenbergia capillaris.