Pineapple plants (Ananas comosus) have recently been taking the house plantworld by storm. It's easy to see why: the idea of growing a tropical pineapple in your home is very appealing. The plants are attractive, too, with a rosette of spiky, exotic-looking leaves and an interesting flower spike.
Pineapple mania first took off in the UK in the 1700s, after the edible fruits had been introduced to Europe from south America by Spanish conquistadors. They were grown in the grounds of large houses and shown off at the dinner tables of the wealthy. They were a real status symbol, as growing a tropical fruit in the cool UK climate involved the skill of a gardener and the expense of heating a special pineapple house or 'stove'.
You'll find two types of pineapple on sale in the UK. The species is a large plant with an edible fruit. The smaller, ornamental types, including dwarf or pygmy pineapples, produce fruits that are edible but extremely bitter – these are best grown for their good looks and novelty value.
