Plant Profile: Ananas comosus var. variegatus

Names

Ivory Pinapple, Variegated Pineapple

  • Photo of Ananas comosus var. variegatus (Ananas comosus var. variegatuss)

Phonetic Spelling:A-nan-as kom-OH-sus vair-ee-ah-GAY-tus

Genus:Ananas

Species:comosus

Family:Bromeliaceae

The Variegated Pineapple, a type of bromeliad indigenous to the tropical regions of the Americas, features eye-catching, spiky leaves that are strap-like and variegated. In areas free from frost, it can thrive outdoors as a standout specimen or accent plant. However, in colder climates, it should be cultivated in a pot and brought indoors during winter, or alternatively, it can be maintained as a houseplant. While it does bear an edible fruit, it does not possess the sweetness typically found in cultivated pineapples that are grown under ideal conditions.

Regarding pests and diseases, the pineapple plant may suffer from issues such as wilt and root rot. Additionally, it can be susceptible to mealybugs, scale insects, thrips, and nematodes.

For further details, refer to information on Ananas comosus.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Feature Summary

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Image Gallery

Tags

#houseplant
#showy leaves
#interiorscape
#winter interest
#high maintenance
#tropical feel
#container plants

Similar Plants

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Feature Summary

Attributes
Brazil, Tropical South America
Fruits are edible but not particularly tasty.
Perennial
Fruit
The inflorescence is fused into a seedless syncarp formed by 100-200 individual spiral flowers to form the fruit. When the fruit is ripe it generates a waxy, tough outer rind made up of hexagonal shaped units that change from green to yellow or slightly brown as it ripens.
Green
Red/Burgundy
Brown/Copper
Gold/Yellow
> 3 inches
> 3 inches
Flowers
The flowers are in an erect, tight cluster. Each flower is made up of 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens typical of monocots.
Purple/Lavender
Red/Burgundy
2-3 rays/petals
< 1 inch
Leaves
Leaves are grey to green, variegated lengthwise with yellow to white stripes tinged with pinkish-red along the spiny margins. The reddish colors are more pronounced when grown in bright light.
Green
Gray/Silver
White
Gold/Yellow
Variegated
Red/Burgundy
Pink
Entire
Serrate
> 6 inches
Prickly
Smooth
Leathery
1-3 inches
Stem
Very small, if any stem. Most leaves emerge directly from the soil.
Poisonous to Humans
Mild skin irritation from contact with juice; mechanical damage from sharp-pointed, spiny leaves; irritation to the eyes from splashed juice; irritation of mouth, lips, and tongue from ingesting fruit. Throat irritation and strong laxative effect from ingestion of large quantities of RAW pineapple and/or sap from leaves; digestive tract benzoars from excessive consumption of pineapple cores.
Bromelin, ethyl acrylate, and calcium oxalate crystals
Leaves
Sap/Juice
Fruits
Whole Plant Traits
Perennial
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Coarse
Cultural Conditions
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Good Drainage
10a
10b
11a
11b
12a
12b
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Landscape
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
Accent
Specimen
Container
Houseplants
Contact Dermatitis
Spines/Thorns
Problem for Children

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Attributes

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Country Or Region Of Origin

Brazil, Tropical South America

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Edibility

Fruits are edible but not particularly tasty.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Life Cycle

Annual
Biennial
Bulb
Perennial
Woody

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Fruit

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Fruit Description

The inflorescence is fused into a seedless syncarp formed by 100-200 individual spiral flowers to form the fruit. When the fruit is ripe it generates a waxy, tough outer rind made up of hexagonal shaped units that change from green to yellow or slightly brown as it ripens.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Fruit Color

grass
Brown/Copper
grass
Gold/Yellow
grass
Green
grass
Red/Burgundy

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Fruit Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Fruit Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Fruit Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
> 3 inches

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Flowers

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Flower Description

The flowers are in an erect, tight cluster. Each flower is made up of 3 sepals, 3 petals, 6 stamens typical of monocots.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Flower Color

filter_vintage
Purple/Lavender
filter_vintage
Red/Burgundy

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Flower Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long Bloom Season
Long-lasting
Showy

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Flower Petals

2-3 rays/petals
4-5 petals/rays
6 petals/rays
7 - 20 petals/rays
asymmetrical petals
Bracts
Colored Sepals
fused petals
more than 20 petals/rays
Tepals

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Flower Size

1-3 inches
3-6 inches
< 1 inch
> 6 inches

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Leaves

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Description

Leaves are grey to green, variegated lengthwise with yellow to white stripes tinged with pinkish-red along the spiny margins. The reddish colors are more pronounced when grown in bright light.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Color

spa
Gold/Yellow
spa
Gray/Silver
spa
Green
spa
Pink
spa
Red/Burgundy
spa
Variegated
spa
White

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Type

Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Fronds
Needles
Sheath
Simple

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Arrangement

Alternate
Opposite
Other/more complex
Rosulate
Whorled

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Shape

Acicular
Auriculate
Cordate
Cuneate
Deltoid
Elliptical
Filiform
Lanceolate
Linear
Oblanceolate
Oblong
Obovate
Obtuse
Orbicular
Ovate
Palmasect
Palmatifid
Peltate
Pinnatifid
Pinnatisect
Reniform
Rhomboidal
Spatulate
Subcordate
Subulate

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Margin

Crenate
Crenulate
Dentate
Denticulate
Doubly Crenate
Doubly Dentate
Doubly Serrate
Entire
Lobed
Serrate
Sinuate
Undulate

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Hairs Present

No
Yes

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Length

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Feel

Fleshy
Glossy
Leathery
Papery
Prickly
Rough
Rubbery
Slippery
Smooth
Soft
Velvety
Waxy

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Value To Gardener

Edible
Fragrant
Good Cut
Good Dried
Long-lasting
Showy

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Leaf Width

< 1 inch
1-3 inches
3-6 inches
> 6 inches

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Stem

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Stem Description

Very small, if any stem. Most leaves emerge directly from the soil.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Stem Is Aromatic

No
Yes

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Poisonous to Humans

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Poison Symptoms

Mild skin irritation from contact with juice; mechanical damage from sharp-pointed, spiny leaves; irritation to the eyes from splashed juice; irritation of mouth, lips, and tongue from ingesting fruit. Throat irritation and strong laxative effect from ingestion of large quantities of RAW pineapple and/or sap from leaves; digestive tract benzoars from excessive consumption of pineapple cores.

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Poison Toxic Principle

Bromelin, ethyl acrylate, and calcium oxalate crystals

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Poison Severity

High
Low
Medium

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Causes Contact Dermatitis

No
Yes

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Poison Part

Bark
Flowers
Fruits
Leaves
Roots
Sap/Juice
Seeds
Stems

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Whole Plant Traits

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Plant Type

Annual
Bulb
Carnivorous
Edible
Epiphyte
Fern
Ground Cover
Herb
Herbaceous Perennial
Houseplant
Mushroom
Native Plant
Ornamental Grasses and Sedges
Perennial
Poisonous
Rose
Shrub
Succulent
Tree
Turfgrass
Vegetable
Vine
Water Plant
Weed
Wildflower

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Habit/Form

Arching
Ascending
Broad
Cascading
Climbing
Clumping
Columnar
Conical
Creeping
Dense
Erect
Horizontal
Irregular
Mounding
Multi-stemmed
Multi-trunked
Open
Oval
Prostrate
Pyramidal
Rounded
Spreading
Vase
Weeping

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Growth Rate

Slow
Medium
Rapid

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Maintenance

Low
Medium
High

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Texture

Fine
Medium
Coarse

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Cultural Conditions

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Light

Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Soil Drainage

Frequent Standing Water
Good Drainage
Moist
Occasional Flooding
Occasionally Dry
Occasionally Wet
Very Dry

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Available Space To Plant

12 inches-3 feet
12-24 feet
24-60 feet
3 feet-6 feet
6-feet-12 feet
Less than 12 inches
more than 60 feet

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone

thermostat
10a
thermostat
10b
thermostat
11a
thermostat
11b
thermostat
12a
thermostat
12b

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Soil Texture

Clay
High Organic Matter
Loam (Silt)
Sand
Shallow Rocky

Ananas comosus var. variegatus Landscape

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Landscape Theme

Asian Garden
Butterfly Garden
Children's Garden
Cottage Garden
Cutting Garden
Drought Tolerant Garden
Edible Garden
English Garden
Fairy Garden
Garden for the Blind
Native Garden
Nighttime Garden
Pollinator Garden
Rain Garden
Rock Garden
Shade Garden
Water Garden
Winter Garden

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Design Feature

Accent
Barrier
Border
Flowering Tree
Foundation Planting
Hedge
Mass Planting
Screen/Privacy
Security
Shade Tree
Small groups
Small Tree
Specimen
Street Tree
Understory Tree

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Resistance To Challenges

Black Walnut
Compaction
Deer
Diseases
Drought
Dry Soil
Erosion
Fire
Foot Traffic
Heat
Heavy Shade
Humidity
Insect Pests
Pollution
Poor Soil
Rabbits
Salt
Slugs
Squirrels
Storm damage
Urban Conditions
Voles
Wet Soil
Wind

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Landscape Location

Coastal
Container
Hanging Baskets
Houseplants
Lawn
Meadow
Naturalized Area
Near Septic
Patio
Pond
Pool/Hardscape
Recreational Play Area
Riparian
Rock Wall
Slope/Bank
Small Space
Vertical Spaces
Walkways
Woodland

Ananas comosus var. variegatus: Problems

Allelopathic
Contact Dermatitis
Frequent Disease Problems
Frequent Insect Problems
Invasive Species
Malodorous
Messy
Poisonous to Humans
Problem for Cats
Problem for Children
Problem for Dogs
Problem for Horses
Short-lived
Spines/Thorns
Weak Wood
Weedy