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| I
got my plant in 2008 from Henrik Zetterlund of Gothenburg
Botanic Gardens and it has delighted me each year since. I
grow it in my alpine house in a 15cm. clay pot in a compost
made up of equal parts of JI3, grit and Perlite. I keep it
almost completely dry in winter but water it liberally in
summer. It flowers in July. |
| The
flowers encircling the stem are maroon with prominent yellow
anthers. |
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| The
genus Eucomis (Hyacinthaceae)
contains twelve species of bulbs and comes from southern
Africa, mainly South Africa. Several of the larger species,
commonly called ‘Pineapple Flowers’, are widely grown in
the border and, despite their exotic appearance are reasonably
hardy although in colder areas they should be given winter
protection or lifted and stored in a frost free place.
E.
schijffii, however, is hardy down to -5°C and is endemic
to the Drakensberg Mountains where it grows in summer rainfall
areas up to 3200m. It is one of the smallest members of the
genus, not exceeding 12cm when in flower and is a true alpine.
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| While
it is attractive in flower I think I like it best when the new
foliage appears in late spring/early summer. It forms a
rosette of five to six broadly oval leaves which are bluish
green with a purple margin. In the centre is a more congested,
purple-flushed rosette, the coma, which remains at the top of
the inflorescence. |
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| Propagation
is by seed or leaf cuttings taken in June. I have collected
some seed from my plant and I plan to try it outside in very
well-drained soil, with some protection against excessive
winter wet.
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