Eucomis Autumnalis 8 Seeds, South African Pineapple Lily, Bulb Type Garden Plants

The Plant Attraction

$4.50 

Eucomis Autumnalis
Also known as: Pineapple Lily

Here is an unusual exotic plant found throughout South Africa. It's a deciduous, summer growing bulb. The extraordinary inflorescence is a dense cylindrical raceme on a stout stalk, crowded with up to ±125 starry yellowish-white and green flowers with a tuft of leaf-like bracts at the tip. The inflorescence pushes the overall height of the plant up to ±50-75 cm. Very decorative and can be kept for up to a month in the vase. The foliage grows into a large rosette with broad, soft-textured, fleshy, wavy-edged leaves, about 12-35 cm long x 60-75 cm wide.

Although the bulb is toxic, it is used medicinally in South Africa. Decoctions of the bulb in water or milk are usually administered as enemas for the treatment of low backache, to assist in post-operative recovery, and to aid in healing fractures. Decoctions are also used for a variety of ailments, including urinary diseases, stomach ache, fevers, colic, flatulence, hangovers and syphilis, and to facilitate childbirth. Several homoisoflavones have been found in it, and flavonoids are known for their anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic action. It also contains some steroidal triterpenoids and they are known to be beneficial in wound therapy. This is just informational and not to be used as medical advise.

It is not difficult to grow and once established does not require much attention. They will tolerate poor soil, but perform much better in fertile soil. Ample water while in active growth during spring and summer. They are frost hardy and should survive a winter minimum of -7 C / 20 °F (zone 9), although in regions where frost is expected, it is advisable to plant them in a sheltered position, in tight clumps, in very well-drained soil, and to keep them as dry as possible and to cover them with a thick protective mulch of leaves / straw during dormancy.
It is a member of the Hyacinthaceae (hyacinth family), formerly part of the Liliaceae (lily family).

This offer is for 8 seeds.