Eucomis comosa 'Safari Adventure' – Pineapple Lily (Summer Tropical)

Safari Adventure' transports your garden to the tropics! Though botanically a perennial bulb, this spectacular plant is best grown in colder climates like Quebec as a summer tropical accent or a container plant to be overwintered indoors. Its unique silhouette creates an irresistible focal point, perfectly mimicking a small pineapple. The foliage, a deep olive green brushed with burgundy, forms a broad rosette from which massive flower spikes emerge. The bicolored flowers, opening creamy white and maturing to a rich rosy-purple, deliver a prolonged show from late summer through fall. It's the perfect solution for sunny beds or as a show-stopping container thriller.

Characteristics

• Foliage: Large, strap-like, deciduous leaves are deep olive green, acquiring attractive burgundy undertones in bright sunlight.
• Bloom / Fruit / Stems: Thick, dark purple stems are topped by a dense, cylindrical inflorescence, resembling a pineapple. Bicolored flowers open cream, then deepen to rich rosy-purple. Blooms from late summer through fall.
• Light: Requires Full Sun for optimal flowering and colour, but tolerates Part Shade in high-heat areas.
• Habit: Upright and rounded clump, highly architectural.
• Growth: Moderate. Reaches its mature size within one growing season.
• Soil: Prefers rich and, most importantly, very well-drained soil. Avoid excessive moisture, especially in containers.
• Temperature: Not winter-hardy in most of Quebec. Cultivate as a summer plant that must be brought indoors before the first frost.
• Resistances: Excellent tolerance to heat and established drought conditions. Resistant to White-tailed deer and Hare and rabbit.

Usage

• Types d'usage: Highly preferred as a Pot – Thriller, excellent for exotic accents in mass plantings, or in full ground (if treated as a true annual).
• Decorative Advantages: Its architectural form and late-season blooms extend the garden's interest. Makes a spectacular cut flower.

Maintenance

• Watering: Water regularly to keep the soil consistently moist during the active growing season (summer). Allow the surface to dry slightly between waterings, especially when container grown.
• Fertilization: Apply a slow-release granular fertilizer in early spring or a balanced liquid fertilizer every 2–3 weeks to support the prolonged bloom period.
• Pruning: Cut spent flower stalks (scapes) back to the base. Cut back dry foliage to the ground in spring before new growth appears.
• Planting: Plant bulbs deep (approx. 15 cm / 6 inches) in spring after all danger of frost, or transplant pot-grown plants. Space plants 90 to 120 cm (36 to 48 in) apart.
• Winter Protection: Bring the container indoors in the fall before frost, or dig up the bulb to store indoors in a cool, dry, and frost-free area for the winter.