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Tropicalesque Gardens

Euphorbia, Pineapple lily info, anyone grow it?

6 years ago

I have a Pineapple lily bulb/corm I just planted. I see they are zone 8 hardy, but has anyone grown them and lifted them in fall, or overwintered them in zones 6 or 7? Any info on them growing in your yard

They are said to be from Africa, so well drained soil is a must, and I did see an article saying they need good drainage, but, I just wondered if anyone has grown them.

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Comments (8)

katob Z6ish, NE Pa
6 years ago
Nobody else?

I've been growing a few for a couple years, even some from seed. Easy and cool is how I'd describe them. They are no problem to over winter and will grow in either pots or in the ground... Like you said, good drainage, but mine are in regular garden soil and again no problems.

Rumor has it some are much hardier than zone 8 and I've heard of people overwintering them without any protection in 7 or 6 but haven't been brave enough to try it with my own.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
6 years ago
I think you mean Eucomis, not Euphorbia :-)

They are fully ground hardy to zone 7....maybe even zone 6 with a good mulch and excellent drainage. Like most bulbs, good drainage, especially during the wetter winter months is essential.

Here are a couple of fact sheets about growing eucomis:

https://www.longfield-gardens.com/article/All-About-Eucomis

http://www.bdlilies.com/eucomis.html
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I saw a gardening show recently where Tony Avents (from Plant Delights Nursery from which I ordered my pineapple lily)told about taking the leaf cuttings. He said they took 2" cuttings and put them in soiless mixture and keep moist. They are supposed to start new little plants within 6 weeks. I took a long leaf last week and cut 19 pieces that I hope are beginning to root. I don't know if there is a certain season that is better than others. Tony Avents said that several years ago they sent the plant to every company that did tissue culture and they all failed at propogating 'Sparkling Burgundy'. He later read an article in a British gardening magazine that explained how to propogate them and that is how he got enough stock to begin selling them.
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They usually produce off set bulbs that are still attached to the main one. In this case cut them off making sure to get roots. You can see where the bulb is starting to divide itself. If you leave them in the ground long enough the bulbs will grow into seperate bulbs themselves.
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poaky1
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi, great to hear from you 2 guys. My plant is now about 6-7 inches above the soil line and looking good so far. I have "sparkling burgundy" Eucomis. Yes, it's Eucomis not Euphorbia gardengal. Sorry, to many plant searches.... I have mine in a large pot, and I've been hoping I can overwinter it in that pot which is a large pot, but, I'm not sure how many gallons the pot is. It's a large double walled plastic pot from Rural King. I'm thinking maybe 15 gallon pot? I will try to get the real number and/or size of the pot. I must say I'm glad to hear from you 2 that they are zone 7 and possibly 6 with protection. I hope you 2 can post a pic soon. I'll do so also. Later.
poaky1
Original Author
6 years ago
My pot may be more than 15 gallons, not sure, when I take a pic maybe you can guess. I want to buy a couple more but they're out. I guess I can eventually get more and they can tell by the UPC how big it is in gallons.
maryjozone5
6 years ago
Have any of you tried to divide the bulbs of the eucomis? I grew them in a pot last summer, brought in the bulbs over the winter, then replanted them this past summer. I saw the bulbs multiplied when I dug them up the other day and I saw something interesting. The bulbs were growing on a flat old bulb I guess. It was the same material as the new bulbs, but flat and several new bulbs were attached to it. The roots were coming from this bigger flat bulb. So am I supposed to rip the new bulbs off the old flat piece? Separating the bulbs broke the flat bottom bulb and I hope that was okay? I can't find any information about this anywhere.
poaky1
Original Author
6 years ago
When should I dig up the "Pineapple lilly"?
Mary Jo Evers
6 years ago
before the frost. let me know if your bulbs are sitting on an old one. this is the second year of pulling them up and i dont remember them having this old bulb attached to them last year.
poaky1
Original Author
6 years ago
Okay Gardengal Katob, and both of you Mary's. I was thinking I had to wait until AFTER the first frost. I will remove mine from the pot and store inside my basement this winter, but, next spring I will try and get together another raised bed, and fill with well draining soil, and mulch well next winter, maybe even cover the top of the soil with a tent of some type to increase the heat for winter storage. But, I must add that my Pineapple lilly never bloomed this year. I should've fertilized? I mean with less nitrogen, but used a blooming plant fert.

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