Eucomis Species, Pineapple Lily

Wonderful plant that "grows" on you! I have posted a comment under Eucomis comosa (Syn. E. comosa var comosa). Since then I became aware ...Read Morethat there is indeed a variation registered as distinct from E. c. var comosa.

I find that very consistent moisture is IMPORTANT for the well-being of this plant! I went back and forth with watering and this did nothing but stress it out. However that may be one way to increase new bulbils from below mature bulbs. Have yet to try boggy conditions.
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Numerous sources for substantiation of this variety... Here are a few:





"An adaptation of Reyneke’s key to the genus Eucomis:
Neil R. Crouch" PDF
Ethnobotany Unit, South African National Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 52099, Berea Road, 4007 South Africa / School of Chemistry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4041, South Africa. E-mail: n.crouch@sanbi.org.za

[Below was taken from the above PDF file. It would be worth your while to google and check out the many beautiful pics of various species! Could not transfer the link here and quoted from taxonomic rendering of Eucomis:]

"5. Plants medium-sized, leaves sword-shaped with straight margins, leaf underside purple-spotted at the base .............................E. comosa var. comosa
5. Plants large, leaves strap-shaped with [wavy margins], leaf underside [purple-striped] at the base ................ .............................................E. comosa var. striata"
(my [ ]'s for distinguishing features)

Am adding another link for kew.org- a MUST SEE beautiful oil painting of E. comosa [var striata] in its natural boggy setting!


It is my understanding that there are at least two cultivars of E. comosa var striata introduced by Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, Cape Town South Africa:
TUGELA JADE
CAN CAN
Someone out there go get 'em! They are bound to be worthwhile.

Well there you have it! Whatever you call it it's a hot number as far as I am concerned!

Other new possible E. comosa var striata cvs and/or hybrids:
Eucomis TUGELA GEM, E. TUGELA JEWEL, E. TUGELA RUBY