Plant of the week

TWO-COLOURED PINEAPPLE LILY

SOUTH Africa is native to a vast number of autumn-flowering bulbs. Pink nerines are among the best loved, but eucomis pineapple lilies are close runners-up. Its name comes from the pineapple-like topknot above the crowded flowers. The easiest and hardiest species, eucomis bicolor, has dramatic green, strap-like leaves. From late summer thick, heavily spotted stems develop and they can grow 60cm tall. In late summer or autumn densely packed flowers appear below the leafy topknot. In mild areas eucomis often self-sows. You can divide and replant them in spring. Mine have survived without protection for nine years in my cold Lincolnshire garden.