Pineapple Pink Pineapple (Ananas lucida)

Evergreen sword-like, tough fibrous leaves arranged in a tight spiral around a short stem. Thornless. Leaves are deep brick-reddish toned foliage. This small fruit is edible but flavour and taste unknown. The fruit and stalk are used for the cut flower trade.

Habit - Will fruit in temperate – warm temperate climates. Each individual plant when mature will send out a petite pink decorative pineapple atop a long stem.

Size - Dwarf pineapple, only reaching a height of 28 inches.

Pollination - Fruits are formed without pollination. The short flower stem elongates and enlarges. Consist of numerous small purple/red flowers. Usually the plant will bear one flower stalk at a time though there may be 2 or 3 heads.

Harvest - Unknown.

Pineapple Red Pineapple (Ananas bracteatus)

Fruit consists of whole cluster of fruitlets from the many flowers. As the fruitlets mature they fuse to form a single pineapple with a fibrous stem running through the middle. The skin is tough and waxy, red in colour. The flesh is sweet and juicy, pink-yellow in colour. The fruit weigh about one kilo each.

Habit - Short lived small perennial. Evergreen sword-like grey green leaves with a red hue. The fibrous leaves are arranged in a spiral around a short stem. The edges of the leaves have fine teeth so care must be taken when handling.

Size - Up to a metre tall.

Pollination - Fruits are formed without pollination. The short flower stem elongates and enlarges. Consist of numerous small purple/red flowers. Usually the plant will bear one flower stalk at a time though there may be 2 or 3 heads.

Harvest - Plants take 18 – 24 months from planting to fruit. Fruit should be picked when fully ripe and have developed full flavour and sweetness. Summer ripening. Ripeness can be assessed by tapping the fruit: ripe fruits have a dull, solid sound; unripe fruits have a hollow sound.

Variety Fruiting Time

J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D