Thursday, August 1, 2013

My favorite plant in the garden this week

This week's favorite plant is Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy'.

This South African bulb has striking maroon-tinged leaves that slowly green up as the plant sprouts deep burgundy flower stalks surrounded by pink to purple florets in summer.
I have three plants blooming in two different parts of the garden this year. My two plants in the front garden were moved early this spring and have responded amazingly well after being unceremoniously uprooted and replanted.

The remaining plant in the back garden has been a little slower to bloom this year, but is looking just as good.

This is my third summer growing 'Sparkling Burgundy', and the first year I've had more than one bloom on the same plant. Since these two were the earliest blooms, they're now showing the characteristic leafy topknot that gives Eucomis its common name: Pineapple Lily.


The stats on Eucomis comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy':
  • Zone: 6b - 9b
  • Deciduous bulb
  • Exposure: Full sun
  • Soil: Rich, well-drained, sandy/gritty
  • Water: even moisture (I water mine very little, except to re-establish after moving.)
  • Size: 1-3'

I bought my bulbs from Rare Plant Research at a Spring Hardy Plant Society sale, but they are widely available from specialty nurseries (see Plant Lust's listings here.)

"Favorite Plant" posts are corralled weekly at the danger garden blog. Check the comments section for links to what's floating the boats of other garden bloggers this week!



16 comments:

  1. I love this plant. It's on my wish list. I think the blooms are spectacular.

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    1. Mine took a few years to get blooming, but they are definitely worth it, Jennifer.

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  2. Gorgeous! - mine have not bloomed this year :(

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    1. Not one of my three Eucomis pole-evansii has bloomed this year either, Matthew, and one did last year, so I don't get why not. Yours could still come through, as I have experienced very late summer blooms. Fingers crossed!

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  3. Beautiful! We've already established that you are the Eucomis queen with the huge foliage and now blooms too. Wow! I've got some but they've been shaded out and now only produce foliage. They should be moved or maybe brought to the fall plant swap.

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    1. Ha ha! In my mind I'm hearing Eucomis Queen sung to the tune of Mississippi Queen. Move your Eucomis into the sun, Peter!

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  4. That pineapple lily is such a great plant. Too bad they are not hardy where I live.

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  5. Beautiful! I've got an assortment of Eucomis with a few that are reliable bloomers and others that are more sporadic, I wish I could figure out what makes them happy. Yours are fabulous!

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  6. I love your Eucomis! This is the first year, that I'm not green with envy at the sight of them because I've added some to my garden. And two are blooming right now. What do you do to keep yours so happy?

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  7. I seem to have given mine the exact conditions you have noted, only to have them pull a disappearing act...twice. Think I'll content myself with enjoying yours, though maybe buying a growing plant rather than bulbs would get better results(?)

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  8. That "leafy topknot" completes the scene for me - my kind of lily! Thinking how to tuck this into some oasis setting...

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  9. These summer-blooming bulbs are just the best. I've got some multi-bloom clumps this summer too. Much better in full sun here and on the dryish side -- keeps the leaves from flopping. I share your enthusiasm!

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