The Ultimate Guide to Cultivating and Nurturing Pineapple Lilies

Sonya Harris, a highly skilled gardening specialist with over 20 years of experience in teaching and sharing her expertise on small space gardening, has been evaluated. She is a Master Gardener and the creator of the acclaimed Bullock Garden Project in New Jersey. Sonya’s gardening articles have been featured in Martha Stewart Living, and she was recognized with South Jersey Magazine’s One to Watch Award. Additionally, she is a part of The Spruce Gardening and Plant Care Review Board.

The pineapple lily is a flowering bulb that is not related to either the pineapple or true lilies. These plants produce small, star-shaped flowers on tall stalks that grow in a cylindrical shape from bottom to top, eventually forming a crown of leafy bracts resembling a cap’s feathers. The pineapple lily thrives best in warm and somewhat humid environments, requiring full sun to partial shade and well-draining soil. It prefers temperatures that stay above 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Pineapple lilies are also called pineapple flowers and belong to the Asparagaceae family. They can either be perennial or annual and grow 18-36 inches tall and 18-24 inches wide. They bloom during the summer months and come in various colors such as green, purple, pink, and white. Pineapple lilies are native to Africa and thrive best in loamy and well-drained soils with a pH level of acidic, neutral, or alkaline. To cultivate pineapple lilies, provide them with full sun, good drainage, and large bulbs. These bulbs will produce multiple flower stalks on speckled burgundy stems. Make sure to bury the bulbs at least five inches into the ground during springtime to help them survive the winter in hardy zones. During the winter, store the bulbs in a cool, dark, and dry place.

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The image is credited to Evgeniya Vlasova through The Spruce.

Pineapple lilies thrive in full sun but may require some afternoon shade in southern gardens to prevent foliage from browning. Despite their lush appearance, rocky soil and cactus or orchid potting mixes work well for these non-tropical plants. Water them when the soil surface feels dry but stop in the fall to keep bulbs dry during the winter. Pineapple lilies grow best in temperatures over 65 degrees Fahrenheit, dig up bulbs in the fall to store inside if north of zone 7. Fertilize with a balanced flower fertilizer every two weeks and prune dead foliage during winter dormancy. Propagation through offsets is easier than collecting seeds as they don’t produce identical plants. Leaf cuttings can also be used for propagation. When growing in pots, sink bulbs about 3 inches in chunky mix with good drainage holes and no dish underneath. Beware of aphids, which can be removed with a blast of water. Pineapple lilies have a long bloom period of about eight weeks with delicate greenish-white flowers tinged with purple that have a distinct odor designed to attract pollinating flies. To encourage more blooms, ensure adequate sunlight. Remove spent flower heads and dead leaves in the fall, and watch for overwatering or too much sun.