- Author: Betsy Buxton
This question actually came up last year at the Vallejo Farmers' Market:
Nice couple: “We went to Hawaii a couple of weeks ago and bought this plant called an “Aloha Lily” and brought it home; can you tell us how to care for it?”
Me: “It's a what? Never heard of it but let's look in the Sunset Western Garden Book for it. Nope, not in here; what does it look like?”
Them: “It's about 8 inches tall with green leaves.”
Me: “What do the leaves look like – long and strappy or long and fat or short and roundish?”
Them: “Long and strappy. The shopkeeper said everyone knows what an “Aloha Lily” is.”
Me: “Well, I don't so let's play 20 questions. Does it have flowers on it now and what does it look like and what color is it?”
Them: “It has more than 1 flower – I think- it's long and fuzzy and white.”
And so it went for another 10 minutes until the “aha” moment: “and it has little green leaves at the top of the white flower(s?).” Anyone have a clue yet about this plant?
This couple had fallen in love with a Eucomis or Pineapple Flower! Not actually from Hawaii but from South Africa, with thick spikes of closely set ½ inch long flowers that are topped with clusters of leaf-like bracts that resemble pineapple tops. These plants, from bulbs, bloom during the summer and have purplish seed capsules which hang on to keep the floral show going even longer. They grow best in rich soil with plenty of humus whether in the ground or in pots. Reading about their “need” for rich soil, I feel very sorry for mine which never get the humus OR fertilizer but continue to grow and bloom every year!
If this seems like something you'd want, then make a grouping of pots with both the E. bicolor with green flowers with purple-edged petals. Add the E. comosa with greenish-white flowers tinged pink or purple with stems that are spotted purple at the base. Variety ‘Sparkling Burgundy' has dark purple leaves which will be up to 2 feet long (or more with shade. I also have a mini-version with 6 inch long green leaves and a flower spike of about 3 inches!
All of these plants have been purchased from an online nursery which specializes in tropical plants. When the frost comes, the leaves and spikes “meltdown”, but never fear – the bulbs are merely resting, not dead.
***Speaking of plants and such, remember to mark your calendars for Saturday, Sept 22, for the UC Master Gardeners annual fall plant exchange from 9am-12pm – NO EARLY BIRDS! Again, this event will be at our office at 501 Texas Street in Fairfield. Hope to see you there!!