 Cultivated
by Central American Indians for centuries, the pineappleÕs wild
origin is believed to be in Brazil. It was praised by early European
visitors as the finest of all fruit and shipped back to the Old
World. To offer the expensive exotic to a guest was a great
compliment; hence the use of pineapple motifs in architecture to
symbolize hospitality. The leaf rosettes are up to 30 in (75 cm)
high and 4 ft (1.2 m) wide. The sword-shaped leaves are viciously
edged with tiny thorns, but recently smooth-leaved cultivars have
been developed. It has an inflorescence up to 12 in (30 cm) long
with yellow to red bracts and grows up to 4 ft (1.2 m) tall when in
fruit. Fruit occurs in the second year if conditions are suitable.
Porteanus has leaves with a central yellow stripe, while Variegatus
has leaves with cream marginal stripes and may develop red tints.,
Plant in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. They are usually
propagated from the basal suckers that develop on mature rosettes.
You can remove the leafy top from the fruit and treat it as a
cutting, either rooting it in soil or water. |
