• Image of Eucomis vandermerwei 'Octopus'|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG
    |Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG
  • Image of Eucomis vandermerwei 'Octopus'|Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG
    |Juniper Level Botanic Gdn, NC|JLBG
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Eucomis vandermerwei 'Octopus'

Octopus Dwarf Pineapple Lily

This plant is not currently for sale. This is an archive page preserved for informational use.

Shop Available Eucomis

Item #: 7708

Zones: 7a to 8b, guessing

Dormancy: Winter

Height: 6" tall

Culture: Sun to Part Sun

Origin: South Africa

Pot Size: 3.5" pot (24 fl. oz/0.7 L)


The rare Eucomis vandermerwei is native only to the small, high rainfall region in the Northern Drakensberg Mountains (Steenkampsberg range) just east of Pretoria, South Africa. In the wild, Eucomis vandermerwei are found in well-drained rocky crevices, free from winter moisture. In the garden, the dwarf Eucomis vandermerwei makes a wonderful 6" tall x 1' wide rock garden plant. Eucomis 'Octopus' is a vigorous selection with narrow, ground-hugging green leaves, heavily specked with dark purple. The dark purple, mini pineapple-looking flowers top the foliage starting in July...just darling. If kept dry when dormant, these should prove to be quite winter-hardy, although they don't re-emerge before June in NC.