Eucomis bicolor AGM

Description

Eucomis bicolor has spikes that are greenish with purplish edged flowers. Commonly known as the pineapple plant because of the arrangement of leaves on the top of the flower. Given the award of garden merit by the RHS Eucomis bicolor is an all round garden performer. They are not hardy over winter so need to be kept indoors and allowed to go dormant over the winter. A native of South Africa they are just worth growing for the lush amount of leaves that they produce. Eucomis are also very good for containers.

AGM=Award Garden Merit given by the RHS.

Cultivation instruction

Plant Indoors: They are at their best when grown outside.

Plant outside: They prefer a light well-drained soil. In heavy soils, just add grit and sand to lighten it up. Cultivate soils to a depth of 20cms and add some well rotted manure or granular fertiliser to the soil when cultivating. Plant them 10cms below the soil surface. Cover with soil and firm around bulbs to keep them in place. Leave to establish for a few years and protect from winter frosts by covering them in a couple of inches of mulch over winter. Can be left to naturalise for a number of years, regularly feed during the growing season with foods such as well rotted manures, Tomato feed and bone meal will provide food for continued flowering.

Care Tips:

Ensure soils do not dry out in the first year whilst they are establishing.

We suggest companion planting with crocosmia and later flowering lilies.

Growing information

Height: 12-18″ (30-45cm)

Flowering period: September to October

Soil type: Free draining soils that are humus rich.

Aspect: Shade to Semi shade

Fragrant: N/A

Planting distance: 25cms

Planting depth: 10cms.

Full growing instructions are also provided