How to Plant Pineapple Lilies

Plant pineapple lily (Eucomis) bulbs in spring, a couple of weeks after your last frost, 3–6 inches deep and 5–10 inches apart, in full sun. They flower for 6–8 weeks from July.

When to plant
Spring, a couple of weeks after your last frost, once nights stay above 55°F
Depth
3–6 inches deep; in containers, the tip of the bulb at the soil surface
Spacing
5–10 inches apart
Sun
Full sun for the best flowers and foliage; tolerates part shade
Water
Keep evenly moist while it is growing and flowering; ease off as it goes dormant
Soil
Well-drained and fertile, rich in organic matter

Step by step

  1. Wait until a couple of weeks after your last frost, when nights stay above 55°F.
  2. Choose a sunny spot with good drainage. Heavy, waterlogged soil rots these bulbs.
  3. Work some compost into the bed.
  4. Plant each bulb pointed end up, 3–6 inches deep, going to the deeper end if you plan to leave them in the ground over winter.
  5. Space bulbs 5–10 inches apart and water in.
  6. Keep the soil moist but not wet while the plants are growing.
  7. In containers, set the bulbs with their tips level with the soil surface.

After bloom

Flowers open from the bottom of the spike up over 6–8 weeks in the second half of summer. Decorative seed capsules follow; leave them on the spike. Cut spikes last more than three weeks in a vase. Let the foliage die back naturally. In zone 6 and colder, lift the bulbs in fall and store them dry at 55–68°F, or bring containers indoors for winter. Replant in spring.
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