Back to Tropical Fruit Point

Location

Tropical Fruit Point

​​​​​​​​Pineapple

• Common name: Pineapple
  
• Scientific name: Ananas comosus
  
• Family name: Bromeliaceae
  
• Origin: South America
  
• Height: 1-3 ft
  
• Width: 3-5 ft
  
• Growth: Slow
  
• Zone: USDA zones 10 through 11
  
• Light needs: Part sun
  
• Salt tolerance: Low
  
• Soil/pH/Texture: Do best in well-drained, sandy loam soil with a neutral or slightly acidic pH of 4.5 to 6.5.
  
• Moisture: Soil should be kept consistently moist. Does best in areas with high humidity.
  
• Drought tolerance: Low
  
• Pests/Diseases: Pests include scale and mealybugs. Diseases include pineapple root rot and pineapple wilt, both of which can seriously damage and kill plants.
  
• Growing conditions: Should be grown in a warm, humid area. If kept indoors, attention should be paid to keeping conditions humid and warm enough for the plant to thrive. Although it can tolerate full sun, it does best when given some protection from direct sunlight. Soil should be moist but not waterlogged. Pineapples are not very drought tolerant and should be watered during dry spells. Occasional fertilization is good for growth and fruit production.
  
• Characteristics: This bromeliad has long, sharp green leaves which grow out in a spiral from the central stem. On mature plants, these leaves may reach up to 5 ft long. Flowers grow on a single stem which emerges from the center of the plant. The inflorescence is pinkish-red and bears a resemblance to the fruit. The fruit is a syncarp, meaning that it is made up of a fusion of many different flowers. The fruit has a rough, scale-like skin which slowly turns yellow as it ripens. The ripe fruit has a sweet aroma and juicy, edible flesh.
  
• Propagation: Typically done with vegetative growth from the “mother plant”. Suckers develop along the base of leaves and can be removed and planted once they reach a usable size. Planted suckers will grow into full plants and start producing fruit around 2 years after being planted.
  
• Wildlife: The flowers are mainly pollinated by hummingbirds. Animals are drawn to and eat the fruit.
  
• Facts: Pineapple was cultivated and eaten by various indigenous peoples of South and Central America for centuries. European colonists were fascinated by and greatly valued pineapple. Upon bringing it back to the Old World, many European nobles began growing it in greenhouses, and it was seen as a sign of nobility and wealth. They were used for display at dinner parties rather than being eaten, often being used repeatedly until they rotted. In architecture, pineapples are a symbol of hospitality, and one can regularly spot pineapples chiseled into buildings or carved onto bed posts. Despite the pineapple not coming from Hawaii, it is commonly seen as a symbol of it, mainly due to it being grown there for a while by several fruit companies.
  
• Designer considerations: It’s unique shape and easily recognizable fruit make it a great choice for containers or other areas where it is easily visible. It should be paired with plants that have more textured foliage to balance out its smooth, large leaves.
  

Pineapple