The source of a plant’s common name isn’t always obvious, but in Eucomis it’s impossible to miss. Known colloquially as pineapple lilies, these strappy-leaved South African bulbs bloom with a flower plainly reminiscent of a certain tropical fruit. Demanding little in both care and space, they make a fun conversation piece in the summer garden and prove worthy of winter storage where they’re not hardy.
In summer, the bulb puts up a thick scape topped with a dense raceme of buds that open to reveal small white, greenish or
