THE AFRICAN GARDEN

Eucomis - Species and Hybrids

Chromosome number 2n=15 or 16 (Darlington and Wylie, 1955).

E. zambesiacea - a smaller species with brilliant white flowers on a spike approximately 30cm high, and rosette 45cm across. 

All are summer flowering with the exception of E. regia, which comes from the Cape region, and winter rainfall area.

The South African species include-

E. comosa var. comosa syn. E. punctata - shade tolerant and with a preference to moist soils, this species has long strap like leaves forming its rosette, leaf length approximately 60cm long, bearing flowers approx 90cm high. Many forms of this plant are in cultivation, and the leaves can be quite variable in colour, and from light green to a dark burgundy. Flowers usually white, but sometimes pinky, or purplish.

E. comosa var. striata - leaf reverse striated purple, with spotted spike, smaller than many forms of E. comosa.  Flowers to 40-60cm high, leaves smaller and more prostrate than
comosa. A nice plant well worth growing.

E. schijffii - dwarf species growing to approximately 35cm tall, forming a dumpy rosette;
reverse of leaves maroon tinged, sometimes with rolled or curled edges, comes from high mountainous areas such as Sentinel Peak.

E. autumnalis subsp. amaryllidifolia syn. E. amaryllidifolia - A rarer subspecies of the
frequently grown E. autumnalis, produces reasonably thick ovate prostrate leaves in a
rosette fashion, white flowers.

E. autumnalis subsp. autumnalis syn. E. undulata - The most commonly cultivated  form of E. autumnalis in the UK, forms a dense rosette of strap like leaves with undulating edges. White or white / green flowers on spikes around 60cm high. Flowers of this species may turn green on exposure to strong sunshine.

E. autumnalis subsp. clavata syn. E. robusta - Can be found growing in open grassland or marshes covering quite a wide area of the Drakensberg, including Kwazulu-Natal and
Lesotho, and can also be found at altitude on Sentinel Peak. White flowers and becoming more common in cultivation. This species may be the hardiest Eucomis surviving
temperatures down to (-11F/-24C) in sandy soil, and planted between six and seven inches deep, information provided by Mark Mazer, Gaylordsville, CT, USA.

E. bicolor - Plant forming a large rosette of wide leaves, to 75cm across, leaves spotted or unspotted on reverse. Flower height 60cm or so, produces large heads of flowers which are wider at the top, which are covered in a rosette of smaller bract like leaves, giving the
species its pineapple appearance. The is also a white flowered form of this species, 'Alba', which is slightly smaller in proportion.

E. montana - Yet another species I have not flowered yet, but the typical feature of the plants I have are in the length and width of the leaves which don't form a typical rosette here. Indeed, sometimes only two or three, long and wide, shiny, red edged leaves are
produced on an annual basis. Superb foliage, leaves up to 60cm and 10cm wide.

E. pole-evansii - The largest species of the genus, which in the wild prefers wetland
habitats. However, it will grow in average garden soils, if regularly irrigated. Leaves over 1 meter long, wide at base tapering along their length, flowers to about 1.2m here. They make a very bold statement but it's a shame the spikes tend to bend over, thus they do sometimes need staking.

E. humilis - Small species with light green short dumpy leaves with a short dumpy spike of pinkish flowers, rare.

E. vandermewei - Dwarf species, with a small rosette of purple spotted leaves. Leaves of this species are approx 20cm long, pointed and slightly undulate at their edge. Short spike of purplish burgundy flowers. This species can be slightly variable in its markings, rare.

E. regia subsp. regia and E. regia subsp. pillansii - I don't think the latter is known in
cultivation in the UK, and this is primarily because there are very few people that grow this winter flowering species. I must admit, it is a little tricky, it doesn't like being wet at all, and easily rots. It will also 'sleep' readily, and remain dormant and skip a year. I haven't
flowered it yet here, but it produces what I would describe as spoon shaped light green leaves, which taper to their base.

List of hybrids

bicolor 'Alba' - UK
bicolor 'Stars & Stripes' - UK  (New release 2003)
autumnalis 'White Dwarf' - UK
comosa 'Cornwood' - UK
comosa 'Oakhurst' - USA
comosa 'Rubrum' - NL
comosa 'Sparkling Burgundy' - USA & UK *
comosa 'Sparkling Rosie' - NZ
pole-evansii 'Burgundy' - UK
pole-evansii 'Purpurea' - UK
'African Bride' - UK (New release 2003)
'Dark Hybrid' - AUS
'First Red' - UK & Germany *
'Frank Lawley' - UK
'John Huxtable' - UK
'John Treasure' - UK *
'Joy White' - NZ
'Joy's Purple' - UK
'Pink Sensation' - AUS
'Playa Blanca' - NL (Any news of its release will be appreciated)
'Royal Burgundy' - UK (New)
'Roze Selectie' syn. 'Rose Selection' - NL *
'Swazi Pride' - UK (New release 2003)
'Victoria Joy' - NZ
'Zeal Bronze' - UK *