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King's Flower

Eucomis bicolor (yoo-KO-miss BY-kul-ur)

Family: Asparagaceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

This species of pineapple lily is a summer bulb in the asparagus (Asparagaceae) family and is native to South Africa. This long-lived bulb provides an attractive summer-blooming pollinator plant that attracts bees and butterflies. The genus name comes from a Greek word, Eukomos, which means 'Beautifully haired'. The common name comes from the blooms, which resemble a pineapple when in bloom. This plant prefers moist, well-drained fertile soil in full sun to partial shade. It will spread slowly by bulb off-sets to form clumps. Propagation can be done by division. Plant bulbs in spring 4-6 inches deep and 12 inches apart. Mulch well to help retain moisture and provide winter protection. In zones 6 and lower the bulbs will need to be stored in a cool dry location. It is marginally hardy in zone 7. The large strappy leaves form a basal rosette from which a flower stalk appears in summer. The densely packed spike of star-shaped florets blooms from bottom to top and is topped with green bracts giving it a pineapple look.They fragrance can be It can provide beautiful fresh-cut flowers and is at home in perennial beds, containers, walkways, courtyards, as a specimen and in pollinator gardens. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems but watch or slugs, snails and aphids. More information on Eucomis .

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 50 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Bulb
Life cycle
Bulb
USDA zones
7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist
Available space
12 inches-3 feet
NC region
Coastal; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Medium
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (1-3 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Texture
Coarse
Leaf color
Green; Purple/Lavender
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Rosulate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Fleshy
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The large strappy foliage is sometimes mottled in purple on the undersides.
Flower color
Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Good Cut; Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Star
Flower detail
Cylindrical raceme on stout stems with creamy-white florets streaked in purple. Individual flowers are star-shaped with 5 petals.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit detail
Purple seeds
Stem color
Green; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
Maroon-speckled stems
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Non-native
Origin
South Africa
Attracts
Bees; Butterflies
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Patio
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Cottage Garden; Cutting Garden; Pollinator Garden
Design feature
Accent; Border
Garden tags
#easy to grow #showy flowers #full sun tolerant #summer bulbs #courtyard garden #bulb #pollinator plant #butterfly friendly #summer flowers #bumblebee friendly #bee friendly #container plant #cutting garden #perennial #specimen #woodland
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs and Snails Found on Flowers and Foliage; Aphids on Ornamental Landscape Plants
Resistant to
Deer; Rabbits
Propagation
Division

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.