What is SpongeBob’s Favorite Flower?
The Pineapple Lily of course! After all, he does live in a pineapple under the sea, doesn’t he? Please forgive my bad sense of humor but I needed a creative way to introduce a plant that many of you may not be familiar with. As a matter of fact, I have only recently become acquainted with it having grown it in my own garden for the first time last year. Gardeners who are looking to add a tropical flair to their yard may want to give this plant a try.
Pineapple Lilies are also known as King’s Flower and their more technical name is Eucomis. The leaves are strap-like and resemble a corn plant but the name comes from its funnel-shaped spike of flowers that resemble a pineapple. They are members of the Hyacinth family and native to Southern Africa. In garden zones 8 through 10 they can be considered a perennial flower but for most of us they are similar to Elephant Ears and Dahlias in that they can be dug up in the fall; stored in a cool, dry and dark place for the winter and then replanted the following spring. They can be used as a bedding plant but are more commonly grown in containers, which is how I grew them last season.
Similar to other warm weather bulbs it begins blooming in mid-summer and will do so through the fall. The flower spikes range in height from 6 inches to some varieties that are up to 3 feet tall. They can spread up to 2 feet wide and you can plant up to 3 bulbs in an 18-inch container. I grew my Pineapple Lilies as the centerpiece of several of my containers but I think they would have looked better in a mass grouping by themselves as opposed to mixed in with Petunias and Verbena. The flower colors including yellow, pink and purple and some varieties have leaves which have red or purple edges.
In addition to its exotic look, Pineapple Liles require little care once they are planted. They are drought resistant and typically unaffected by pests and diseases. They are also deer resistant and can adapt to a wide array of soil conditions. It can even tolerate wet soil conditions but that can cause the bulb to rot and make it an annual plant as opposed to one that you can possibly plant from year to year. Just fertilize them once about a month after they are planted and you can just sit back and enjoy them. In the fall, after the foliage has died, you can dig them up and store them as you would other tender bulbs. As a matter of fact, as I write this article, I am getting them ready to “wake up” from their winter nap.
If you are looking to grow something different this year then why not give Pineapple Lilies a try? They could become your favorite flower…just like Sponge Bob!
