Thursday, August 6, 2009

Eucomis

One of my happiest early spring discoveries was that my Eucomis Oakhurst had made it through the winter and was peeking out of the ground. Since that day I have watched them leaf out, push up bloom spikes, and now in full bloom. As I mentioned back in April, these plants came from the Chocolate Flower Farm, on Whidbey Island, WA. They were the smallest most insignificant little plants I’ve ever bought, but since we had ventured all the way over to the nursery on a stormy day I couldn’t go home empty handed. Thank goodness I took a leap of faith and bought them.

The foliage starts out almost black in the spring and by now has turned a deep green. They will die back at the first frost and, fortunately, return in the spring.
An equally happy discovery mid-July was that my Eucomis Pole-Evansii was pushing out a bloom spike. This is the second year for this plant and last year it only produced leaves. So far the blossom is much less dramatic than the Oakhurst, but definitely living up to its common name, Pineapple Lily. It’s not all about the bloom spikes though; there are a couple other Eucomis in the danger garden that are still only leaves like this one.
It is still lovely, with big fleshy leaves that have a slight ruffle and dark stripe along the edges. So glad I took a chance on my first Eucomis.

8 comments:

  1. Didn't know you got Eucomis with purple leaves!

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  2. Yum, yum, yum! Just left a message for you on Blotanical re: this heavenly dark Eucomis. Do you visit Blotanical? I realize I've been leaving messages there - not sure if you're receiving them. This is one dramatic Eucomis, & I saw a bevy of them shooting up in Portland's Waterfront Park gardens.
    I'm a huge fan of Chocolate Flower Farm, too. They're the best!
    Dark foliage, dark flowers - who could ask for anything more? Well, many more... but rightly so! Alice

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  3. Wow, those are stunning. Are all Eucomis called Pineapply Lily, or only that middle one? I am so ignorant... love the purple one, I will have to look for it. Never been to the Chocolate Flower folks' place although I have driven by. Funny concept but I guess it works!

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  4. Well, having seen them in the flesh at the danger garden yesterday, I can attest to their striking beauty! Those flowers on the Oakhurst are spectacular, Loree. I know you're particularly into foliage, but the total package is an absolute winner.
    The green eucomis pictures are great: beautifully color-saturated and sensuous. I just want to dive into those cool green centers!

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  5. They are so cute. Looks like mini pineapples. It is such a extraordinary plant. Does the plant flowers all the time? I wonder if such plant can be grown here... so beautiful!

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  6. I love that dark purple one. That's a plant I've never come across in Austin.

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  7. Congratulations on the eucomis not only surviving, but thriving. I was excited when I saw a friend's plant was blooming, but it only had one flower spike, I thought this was just how they bloomed, but yours has 6? Fantastic.

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  8. Elephant's Eye, yep! During the growing season they range from almost black, on to purple and then a dark purple/green.

    BATGT (Alice), yes I have been getting your messages there, I go there ever so often. I will have to check out the ones on the Waterfront! I had no idea!

    Karen, I believe that the common name for all Eucomis is Pineapple Lilly. They all do start out with the cute little pineapple shape.

    Thanks Jane! It was nice to meet you, and I hope you will keep me up to date on the progress of the little agave pup!

    Stephanie, here they die back in the winter and build all summer to the flower which is amazingly long lasting. I'm not sure if you could grow them there...I bet a local nursery could tell you.

    Pam, you should give them a try!

    Megan, they are really thriving - you are right! Even their first year I think they each had a couple of spikes, they are multiplying and I suppose I should think about dividing them sometime. I am just not any good at remembering to do that.

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