(Variegated Red Pineapple)

Closely related to the commercial pineapple, red pineapple is an evergreen, terrestrial perennial from southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. Plants form rosettes of erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves that blush red in full sun. Rosettes produce offsets at the base and between the leaves. When mature (about 18 months after propagation), the central rosette gives rise to a tall stout stem bearing an oval cluster of lavender flowers with large prickly red bracts. A plume of stiff...

(Tricolor Red Pineapple, Variegated Ornamental Pineapple)

Closely related to the commercial pineapple, red pineapple is an evergreen, terrestrial perennial from southeastern Brazil, Paraguay, and northern Argentina. The cultivar 'Tricolor' (also known as 'Striatus') has rosettes of erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves with creamy margins and red spines. The rosettes produce offsets at the base and between the leaves. When mature (about 18 months after propagation), the central rosette gives rise to a tall stout stem bearing an oval cluster of lavender...

(Pineapple)

Who doesn’t love sweet, juicy pineapple? This popular fruit has been long cultivated in hot spots like Southeast Asia, Costa Rica and Hawaii. Believed to have originated from Brazil, pineapple had already been grown and selected by indigenous Americans before Europeans arrived in the 15th Century. Today no wild form is known, but many variable selections exist that differ in flavor quality, vigor and fruit size. Some have even been developed for their ornamental appeal.

Ananas comosus...

(Ivory Coast Pineapple, Variegated Pineapple)

A cultivar of pineapple grown for its colorful foliage rather than its edible fruit, 'Ivory Coast' is an evergreen, terrestrial, rosette-forming perennial whose erect, sword-shaped, olive-green leaves have creamy white, spineless edges. Mature specimens produce pyramidal clusters of small lavender flowers with showy pink bracts. These are borne atop a stout central stem in summer. The flowers give rise to fleshy amber or golden brown fruitlets that fuse into a large, cone-shaped pineapple. The fruit...

(Variegated Pineapple)

Variegated pineapple is a terrestrial bromeliad with a rosette of narrow evergreen leaves colored green, creamy yellow and a little pink. Nasty spines line the leaves, and protect the fleshy amber to golden brown fruit that rises on a central stalk. It is believed to be native to Brazil.

Variegated pineapple needs sunlight and a moist, well drained soil. Full sun promotes the light pink blushing on the leaves, although it is faint or simply not present. It loves humidity and moisture, but soggy...

(Curagua, Pineapple)

A close relative of the commercial pineapple, curagua is distinguished by its rosette of stiff, smooth, slender red-bronze leaves and its pretty inedible fruit. This evergreen terrestrial bromeliad is from northern South America. Throughout the growing season it bears purple-white flowers and small, red, pineapple-like fruits on a stalk that arises from the center of the leaf rosette.

Curagua needs well-drained soil and full to partial sun. Insufficient sunlight will result in dull green rather...

(Dwarf Pineapple, Piñita, Pink Pineapple)

Curious as a tropical plant, the miniature pineapple's small fruit is edible, but usually no larger than that of a chicken egg. Native to northern Brazil to Suriname, this is a tender perennial bromeliad that grows as a spider-like rosette.

Long, stiff grayish green leaves lined in sharp spines, looking and piercing skin like curving swords. Healthy two-year old plants send up a tall, slender flower stalk from the center of the leaf rosette in spring's warmth. Atop this stalk is a rounded mass...

(Italian Bugloss)

A lovely short-loved perennial for sunny well-drained gardens, Italian bugloss has branched stems covered with numerous rich royal blue flowers that will attract bees. It naturally inhabits drier, open areas, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia, where soils are sharply drained and on the poorer side. It self-sows aggressively and has become naturalized across other temperate regions, such as regions of North America, where it is considered an invasive weed.

The fine, linear leaves of this...

(Italian Bugloss)

The moderately compact Italian bugloss 'Feltham Pride' produces loads of azure blue flowers on bushy, coarsely foliated plants from early to midsummer. A lovely short-loved perennial for sunny well-drained gardens, Italian bugloss has branched stems covered with numerous rich royal blue flowers that will attract bees. It naturally inhabits drier, open areas, from the Mediterranean to Central Asia, where soils are sharply drained and on the poorer side. It self-sows aggressively and has become naturalized...

(Cape Bugloss)

Cape bugloss is an biennial or short-lived perennial that is a good choice for a dry, sunny locations in the garden. Often simply grown as an annual flower, this South African native has cheery bright sky blue flowers with white throats that appear on upright stems above coarsely textured lance-shaped foliage. Bees will frequent these cup-shaped flowers across the summer.

Grow cape bugloss in full sun in a moist but perfectly draining soil. Trim off spent flower stems to encourage a second flowering...