# Pineapple Lily (*Eucomis bicolor Baker*)

Pineapple Lily has spiky leaves and tall, fluffy flower spikes that look like a pineapple! They are fun to have in gardens and are easy to care for.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Sunny gardens
- **Also known as:** African Lily, Pineapple Plant

![Pineapple Lily](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426773/objects/4994.jpg)

## Appearance

The Pineapple Lily has a distinctive flower stalk crowned with a tuft of leafy bracts, strikingly similar to a pineapple's top. Its column of star-shaped florets can be greenish-white, purple, or pink, often with darker centers, rising above strap-like green leaves.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Tracheophyta
- **Class:** Magnoliopsida
- **Genus:** Eucomis

## Interesting facts

- It's not a true lily, nor related to pineapples at all!
- Its beautiful flower stalk can stand tall and colorful for weeks!
- Look closely! Its 'pineapple' is made of hundreds of tiny star-flowers!
- This amazing plant comes from the grasslands of South Africa!

## Special abilities

- **Underground Powerhouse:** Pineapple Lily can store energy in its bulb, helping it survive harsh winters and bloom beautifully year after year.
- **Crown Protector:** Pineapple Lily has a leafy 'crown' on top of its flower stalk that helps protect the developing flower buds below.
- **Long-Lasting Bloom:** Pineapple Lily can keep its star-shaped flowers looking fresh for weeks, giving insects more time to pollinate them.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 30-60 cm
- **Spread:** 30-45 cm
- **Flower Size:** 15-30 cm
- **Bloom Season:** Summer
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** Mild
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial
- **Pollination Method:** Insect

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** European Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Buzzes around its small flowers
- **Eaten by:** [Garden Snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Might nibble on its leaves
- **Pollinates:** [Common Drone Fly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-drone-fly) (*Syrphus ribesii*) — Helps carry pollen between plants

## Traits

- [Cluster Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/cluster-flower): Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.
- [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.
- [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.
- [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.
- [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers)

## Safety

**Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Pineapple Lily?

Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### How tall is Pineapple Lily?

30-60 cm

### How wide does Pineapple Lily spread?

30-45 cm

### How big are the flowers on Pineapple Lily?

15-30 cm

### When does Pineapple Lily bloom?

Summer

### Is Pineapple Lily edible?

No

### Is Pineapple Lily toxic?

Mild

### What is Pineapple Lily's lifecycle?

Perennial

## More Plants

- [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*)
- [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*)
- [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*)
- [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*)

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Source: [Pineapple Lily: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pineapple-lily)