Eucomis bicolor 'White' is one of the most characterful bulbs you can add to a late-summer border. Better known as the pineapple lily or pineapple flower, it earns the name from its quirky bloom: a dense column of star-shaped flowers crowned with a leafy topknot of bracts, exactly like the fruit it's named after. This is the cool, greenish-white form of the species, a softer and more refined alternative to the purple-flushed wild type, and a real conversation piece among hardy exotics.From a fleshy bulb emerges a rosette of broad, glossy, strap-like leaves, and by August a thick stem pushes up to carry the flower spike. The pale, almost porcelain blooms open over many weeks into early autumn, just as much of the garden is starting to fade, and the structural seed heads that follow extend the interest well into the season.How and where to grow itLike all eucomis, this is a sun-lover that hails from South Africa, so give it the warmest, most sheltered spot you have. It thrives in free-draining loam, sand or chalk and dislikes sitting wet, particularly over winter. Plant the bulb with its neck just below the surface, water generously through the growing season, then allow it to dry off as the foliage dies back. Position: full sun, south or west-facing, sheltered from cold winds Soil: any free-draining soil; avoid waterlogging Size: around 30-45cm tall and wide in flower Hardiness: borderline hardy; mulch deeply or lift and store frost-free in colder gardens It is equally happy in a container, which makes overwintering simple in cooler regions, and looks superb on a patio or by a doorway where its sculptural form can be admired up close. Whether planted out or grown as eucomis bulbs in pots, it pairs beautifully with grasses, salvias and other exotic-looking perennials.Every plant we send out is nursery-grown and carefully selected, so your pineapple lily arrives strong, healthy and ready to flower.
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